Islamic demonstrators have attacked the building, forcing about 800 faithful to barricade themselves inside the church.
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CAIRO (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Several thousand Muslims have attacked the Coptic church of the Virgin Mary in West Ain Shams, in the suburbs of Cairo. 800 faithful attending the first liturgy remained barricaded inside the church.
The demonstrators attacked the building on the day of its inauguration, November 23. The strife began in the early hours of the morning when a group of Muslims took possession of the first floor of a building in front of the church, turning it into a place of prayer.
At about five o'clock in the afternoon, other demonstrators blocked the road on both sides, and began the attack. The building was originally a factory, but has been modified as a place of worship for the Orthodox Coptic community, after a bureaucratic process that lasted five years.
It is the latest of many acts of violence against Christians. The Copts are the main religious minority living in Egypt, and represent 15% of the population, out of a total of 80 million inhabitants. Over the last 30 years, it is estimated that about 4,000 Christians have been killed or injured in attacks. In 2008, there have been dozens of events similar to the one that happened to the community in the suburb of Cairo.
Interviewed by AsiaNews, Fr. Milad Sidky Zakhary, director of the Catholic Institute of religious studies in Cairo, explains: "The problem is that legal authorization is not given easily to Christians to build churches. It often happens that communities are groups are forced to meet in homes or private buildings in order to fulfill the Sunday precept. If anyone discovers them, they do not report it to the authorities, but directly attack the faithful."
According to Voice of the Copts, A Coptic Christian association based in Italy and the United States, about 10,000 demonstrators attacked the church. Other local sources say that there were 20,000, and report that, when the police came, the crowd moved on to the businesses and property owned by Christians in the neighborhood, waving clubs and chanting incitements to jihad. According to reports, two cars were burned, and five people were injured, in addition to the damage to the newly consecrated church.
Witnesses say that there were also women and children among the demonstrators. Video taken at the moment of the attack on the church has been published on the website of the agency Assyrian International.
Comments
Dear Bulbajer,
You'd have been overshadowed by the history of Islam. Muhammad was a genius prophet, he blurred all his followers. Take a look at his history properly in Koran. You can't deny it. Violence is everywhere!
Damian | 5/5/2009
These extremists say they are followers of Islam, but they are only looking for a way to justify their cause. If you look at history, Islam, at some times, has been admittedly more peaceful than Christianity. Now, Christians have reformed their way of life and lead lives of peace while the Islamic world is expiriencing turbulence, not unlike Christianity did centuries ago. It is our duty to assist our "true" Muslim brothers and sisters in condemning the violence.
People argue that Islam is a religion of violence. They say that because some passages in the Koran are violent and some Muslims act violent, we should distrust all Muslims.
The true, tolerant Islam has often been overshadowed by the more radical, fundamentalist branches. Condemn those branches, not the entirety of Islam.
The people who call Islam a religion of violence have not looked at history very properly.
Bulbajer | 3/12/2009
It's really very sad to see religious violence against other religions. Where is the freedom of worship? What type of religion that allows violence and aggression. A true religion promotes peace and love.
But why do these fundamentalist muslims keep on attacking christians? Is Islam a religion of peace or hatred? Is this religion of violence approaching its doom? Or is it the sign of end time coming? Only God knows. So be prepared. God cleanses us through suffering and repentance. That's why He allows these things to happen. Those who are faithful to Him will be saved. Pray for our affected christian brothers and sisters that they hold on to their faith.
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