Christians attacked after rumors of Church Construction
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
CAIRO, Egypt (Worthy Christian News)– Three people were injured when Muslim mobs burned down eight Christian homes in the Egyptian village of Awlad Khalaf Saturday after a rumor that a house currently under construction would instead become a church.
The Muslims demanded the illegal “church” be torn down and even brought bulldozers in an attempt to destroy what was already built.
Wahib Halim Attia obtained a license to build a house that later grew to occupy 350 square meters, sparking a rumor he intended to build a church instead.
Father Weesa Azmy said someone complained to the City Council in Dar es Salam about “irregularities” in the construction of Attia’s house.
“Wahib carried on with the construction,” said Azmy, “which angered the Muslims, who decided to play God and take the law into their own hands; they attacked the construction site and other Christian homes.”
According to eyewitnesses, Muslims looted and torched eight homes belonging to Attia’s family.
The police arrived hours after the rioting already ended.
Egyptian TV reported that police are now guarding the Christian homes.
Until recently, constructing new churches in Egypt required permission directly from the president; some Christians have waited years to build a new church.