Muslims burn Copt homes and shops before Egyptian elections
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 (5:23 am)
by Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
CAIRO, EGYPT (Worthy News)– Chanting "Allahu Akbar" a Muslim mob attacked the Coptic community of Kebly-Rahmaniya last week, burning down Christian houses, shops and businesses.
According to the Assyrian International News Agency, Egyptian security forces didn't intervene in time to defend the Christians. Further, firefighters didn't arrive until 90 minutes after the mob attacked; by that time, most of the Copt's buildings were already in flames.
According to some Copts, the violence against them came just before the recent parliamentary elections so as order to discourage local religious minorities from voting; with 20,000 members, Copts could have voted with more moderate Muslims to shift the balance of power in the Qena governorate, assuming that they could get to the polls.
No Copt from Rahmaniya-Kebly could vote, so the Salafis won the elections, said one local Copt.
In a related incident, last week Salafists from the Muslim Brotherhood broke into the Abu Makka Church in Bahteem, Qaliubia, informing the congregation that their place of worship was illegal. One Salafi reportedly said the 1,300 square meter building "is perfect for building a mosque and a hospital."
The local bishop who was to inaugurate the church and celebrate its first Mass suspended all opening ceremonies for security reasons, arousing anger and disappointment within the whole congregation.
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