Recent attacks on two predominantly Christian villages in Egypt came after days of rising tensions, which the state’s security services did nothing to quell despite being notified of impending danger to Christians, according to a human rights group.
On April 23 and then again on April 26, hundreds of people took to the streets and attacked Christians, first in Al-Fawakher and then in Al-Koum Al-Ahmar village, both in Minya Governate. Enraged villagers launched the attacks ostensibly to prevent construction of church buildings at each site.
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Clergy from the Coptic Orthodox Church had notified security service officials four days prior to the first attack that hostilities toward the Christians had reached a breaking point, according to a statement issued April 29 by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. On April 20, villagers in Al-Fawakher had attacked three houses with Molotov cocktails in response to a rumor that a Copt’s house was going to be used for worship, according to EIPR.
“Security services failed to intervene to prevent attacks before they occurred, despite their prior knowledge of the existence of tensions and sectarian incitement,” the group said.
Egypt ranked 38th on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
