For Immediate

 Release12 April 2013

EGYPT: COPTS ARRESTED FOLLOWING ATTACK ON ST MARK’S CATHEDRAL

Egyptian authorities have arrested four Coptic men who were present in St Mark’s Cathedral when it was attacked last weekend.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) was informed Shadi Sami was arrested at 4 am, while Michael Morcos was arrested at 6 am by Special Forces who stormed the back entrance of his apartment. It appears the men were detained for being in the grounds of St Mark’s Cathedral when it was attacked last Sunday.

Two other Coptic men were also arrested in the early hours of today, according to the Coptic Maspero Youth Union.

The men were amongst hundreds of people who attended Sunday’s funeral at St Mark’s Cathedral for four Coptic men who were killed in sectarian violence last Friday in Khosous, a town 10 miles from Cairo.

As mourners left the funeral, they were pelted with stones, petrol bombs, and Molotov cocktails, forcing them to seek shelter in the grounds of the Cathedral. As stones and other missiles continued to be hurled from the roofs of surrounding buildings and by people who had climbed the walls of the Cathedral, young Coptic men took up sticks and rocks to retaliate.

Two Coptic men were killed during the violence, and 84 were injured, including Michael Morcos, who required sixteen stitches to the head after being hit by a glass bottle. When police eventually arrived at the scene, they fired teargas into the grounds of the Cathedral and did nothing to end the attack, which continued for at least five hours.

Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director at CSW, said: “These arrests come at a time when the Coptic community in Egypt is still coming to terms with an unprecedented attack on the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Church and the violence in Khosous.

Two Copts were killed during the attack on the Cathedral; four more died in Khosous, yet not one of their attackers has been arrested. Such discrepancies in the discharge of justice contribute to impunity, and can only foster more sectarianism.

They also sends a clear message that Christians are not viewed as equal citizens, despite the government’s verbal protestations to the contrary, and the fact that Egypt is party to international covenants that prohibit discrimination.

Being in the Cathedral identifies these men as victims, not perpetrators. CSW therefore urges their immediate release, and calls on the Egyptian authorities to focus instead on apprehending assailants caught on camera as they attacked the Cathedral with stones and guns.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663,

email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

لفضح الفاشية الاخوانية

يشارك اتحاد المنظمات القبطية فى اوربا مع المنظمة الالمانية لحقوق الانسان " “ IGFM فى بون يوم 12 و 13 من شهر ابريل بحضور عددا من السياسيين فى المانيا من الحزب الحاكم والاحزاب الاخرى فى مؤتمرهم السنوى وسوف يقوم اتحاد المنظمات القبطية بنشر الاعمال الاجرامية من وزارة الداخلية المعضدة من ميلشيات الاخوان ضد الاقباط العزل وضرب الكاترائية المرقسية بالعباسية فى عمل همجى اجرامى لم يسبق حدوثه منذ دخول المسيحية .

وسوف نفضح النظام الارهابى الذى يحاول طمس جرائمة باصدار تعليماتة للمستشفيات المصرية التى يعالج فيها المصابين فى جريمتى الخصوص والكاتدرائية بعدم كتابة اى تقارير طبية او الاحتفاظ باسماء المصابين فيما عدا المستشفى القبطى .

كما اننا نحمل توثيق كامل لجرائم النظام فى الاتحادية وتصفية كل شرفاء الوطن الشهداء مثل جيكا الحسينى محمد الجندى ..... ليطمئن اخواننا المصريين اننا نقف صفا واحدا ضد خفافيش الظلام الفاشيين وتجار الدين عديمى الضمير .

ونتعهد باننا سناخذ الاجراءات القانونية ضد هذا النظام الارهابى .

اتحاد المنظمات القبطية فى اوربا

مدحت قلادة رئيس الاتحاد

دكتور ابراهيم حبيب نائب الرئيس

مجدى يوسف منسق عام الاتحاد

A recent atrocity in Egypt exemplifies violence unprecedented in modern history. On Sunday April 7, 2013, a funeral service was held at St Mark’s Coptic

FCO Minister condemns violent clashes in Egypt

For Immediate Release

8 April 2013

EGYPT: SIEGE ON COPTIC CATHEDRAL HIGHLIGHTS ESCALATING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE

At least two people were killed and over 90 injured yesterday during a siege on St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in Abbasiya, Cairo, in the aftermath of a funeral for four Coptic men.Hundreds of mourners had attended the funeral of 25 year-old Morqos Kamel, 35 year-old Victor Saad, 45 year-old Mansour Attia and 25 year-old Essam Tawadros, who died of gunshot wounds during a mob attack on 5 April on the Christian community in Khorous, a suburb 10 miles north of Cairo, following unsubstantiated claims that Christians had daubed offensive imagery on the walls of an Islamic institution.

When the mourners attempted to leave the premises, they were pelted with stones, petrol bombs, and Molotov cocktails, forcing them to seek shelter in the grounds of the Cathedral. As stones and other missiles continued to be hurled from the roofs of surrounding buildings and by people who had climbed the walls of the Cathedral, young Coptic men took up sticks and rocks to retaliate.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2013| By USCIRF

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed concern about the Egyptian government’s continued application of blasphemy-like charges that are used to stifle dissent and limit the freedoms of religion and expression.

Bassem Youssef, a well-known Egyptian comedian and satirist, was questioned on Monday April 1, 2013 by Egypt’s Public Prosecution office after being charged with “insulting Islam” on his popular television program. He also was charged with insulting the president and spreading false information aimed at threatening public order. On Wednesday, April 3, Egyptian comedian Ali Qandil was questioned after being charged with “insulting Islam,” based on a February appearance on Mr. Youssef’s program. Both Youssef and Qandil posted bail and were released. These are just two of the most recent examples of a disturbing trend that affects all Egyptians.

بيان صحفى

ينطلق فى القاهرة يومى 30و 31 مارس 2013 مؤتمرا حاشدا عن المواطنة والأقليات تحت حكم الاخوان المسلمين.

وصرح السيد مجدى خليل ،مدير منتدى الشرق الأوسط للحريات الذى ينظم المؤتمر،أن هذا المؤتمر هو الاكبر من نوعه فى تاريخ مصر الحديث فى هذا الموضوع، حيث سيشارك فيه بالحضور أو بتقديم أوراق بحثية حوالى 70 سياسى وأكاديمى وباحث متخصص فى الموضوع، وسوف تصدر هذه الابحاث فى مجلدين بالعربية والانجليزية لأستشراف واقع ومستقبل الأقليات تحت الحكم الإسلامى.

25 January 2013

Egypt: Renewed calls for justice, equality and human rights on second anniversary of uprising

On the second anniversary of the Egyptian uprising in Tahrir, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) continues to call for the equality of citizenship for all Egyptians, regardless of their religion or beliefs.

Two years ago Egyptians of all creeds and backgrounds joined together to demand equality, justice and the rule of law. In the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Mubarak regime, there was hope for a new Egypt, where the rights of all Egyptians would be respected and upheld.

However repression has continued in the subsequent years, with brutal tactics being employed against pro-democracy protestors by the previous military and by the government of President Morsi in order to enforce the status quo, resulting in the loss of many lives. Most recently, seven people died and hundreds were injured during the widespread protests that took place late last year, following the negative reaction to the new constitution, which restricts freedom of expression and the rights of women and religious minorities.