Egypt's ruling military council denies killing Coptic Christians

Egypt ruling's military council, facing its worst crisis since the fall of ex-President Hosni Mubarak, was on Wednesday forced into an extraordinary denial of claims it was responsible for violence in which at least 25 people, mostly Coptic Christians, died at the weekend.

By Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent

4:42PM BST 12 Oct 2011

Under mounting pressure to explain the deaths of so many members of an often beleaguered minority, two generals spoke publicly to claim that the army was attacked by protesting Christians with swords and Molotov cocktails.

They denied numerous eye witness accounts and the testimony of hospitals that many of those who died were either shot by soldiers or run over by speeding army vehicles.

"This cannot be attributed to the armed forces, and this cannot be recorded in history, that the armed forces ran over people," said Gen. Adel Umara. He also denied that the soldiers had been issued with live bullets.

The violence broke out at the end of a march to Cairo's central television station by Christians protesting against attacks on churches by radical Islamists in the south of the country. But the fallout has given rise to claims that the army are deliberately inciting unrest to justify maintaining a grip on the country.

State television broadcast calls for Muslims to rally to the defence of the army, which it claimed was under attack from Christian mobs. But activists posted film online showing the army wading into apparently peaceful marchers.

Several videos showed armoured personnel carriers driving into the crowd at speed, and one showed a soldier firing into the crowd from the back of a van.

Some of the Christian activists involved also took part in the demonstrations which toppled Mr Mubarak in March, and have pointed to the similarity of the authorities' response. Like then, the army yesterday tried to blame the unrest on "third parties" – usually a reference to a foreign, particularly Israeli, conspiracy.

"The basic fact is there are enemies of the country who take advantage of the protests to infiltrate and realise destructive roles," the second general, Mahmoud Hegazi, said. "We should all be aware."

But the army council received a stern warning from the United States, which has provided extensive aid to the Egyptian military.

Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, warned the government "to ensure that the fundamental rights of all Egyptians are respected, including the rights of religious freedom, peaceful assembly and the end of military trials for civilians, and that efforts be made to address sectarian tensions".


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8822582/Egypts-ruling-military-council-denies-killing-Coptic-Christians.html

Coptic Christians in Egypt battle state's version of deadly protest

Coptic Christians in Egypt, already dealing with a massacre, are now contending with the state-run version of events, which has convinced many Egyptians that Christians were at least partially responsible for the violence.

By Kristen Chick, Correspondent / October 11, 2011

Egypt’s muted response to a deadly attack by its own Army on a Christian protest Sunday is furthering the anger of Christians, and threatening to escalate sectarian strife at a delicate time of transition.

Government officials have portrayed Sunday’s events as a clash with violent protesters provoked by “hidden hands” to “meddle with the country’s security and safety.” Protesters say their demonstration – protesting a recent attack on a church in southern Egypt as well as the Army’s dispersal of a protest the week before – was peaceful when it was attacked. At least 17 Christians died; most had gunshot wounds and signs of being crushed by vehicles.

While many Muslims joined Christians in mourning the victims Tuesday, others are still convinced that the Christians were the aggressors. Boula Zakie, who was hit by an Army vehicle during the attack, said he has received dozens of phone calls from Muslim friends asking why Christians attacked the Army.

“They don’t believe us,” he says. One of his friends was killed in the attack and another is in critical condition.
Christian anger

Egypt’s finance and deputy prime minister, Hazem al-Beblawi, tendered his resignation Tuesday over the Army attack on Sunday, but reports in state media said that it was rejected by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's military ruler. Mr. Beblawi could not be reached for comment.

The cabinet also promised to implement within two weeks a law that would ease building restrictions on churches, an area where Christians have long been discriminated against. But coming after witnesses said the Army opened fire and drove vehicles into a crowd of protesters, such measures are being rejected by many Christians. Few believe that a fact-finding committee ordered by the military will hold responsible those who killed the protesters.

“This is ridiculous. We have been talking about this law for so long, and only now they remember it?” says Karima Kamal, a columnist and author who writes on Coptic affairs. The entire government should resign, she says, and its refusal to acknowledge what happened will only spur more sectarian attacks. “This is not a response for a state or a government. It is as if nothing happened.”
Public anger

Thousands of Copts and Muslims directed intense anger at the military after the funeral of some of the victims Monday, chanting angrily for the removal of Field Marshal Tantawi. Some political parties have also blasted Egypt’s military council, which is ruling Egypt during the transition from the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak.

Political figure Ayman Nour said at a press conference Monday that, “There is no partnership between us and the council now that the blood of our brothers stands between us.'' The Free Egyptians party, co-founded by Christian businessman Naguib Sawiris, issued a statement warning the military council that "continuing to handle events with force will shake the trust that Egyptians have given it.”

Yet it is unclear how far the outrage over the attack extends. The Muslim Brotherhood released a statement criticizing Christians for holding a protest, saying the time was not right. Many Egyptians saw an entirely different version of events on state television, which broadcast incendiary reports that armed Christians had attacked the Army, and said Army soldiers had died. (No names or evidence of deaths among soldiers has yet been presented to the public.)

The state television reports spurred hundreds of Muslims to take to the streets, armed with sticks, to defend the Army against what they thought were armed and violent Christians.


http://www.csmonitor.com/
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/1011/Coptic-Christians-in-Egypt-battle-state-s-version-of-deadly-protest

Coptic Massacre

Egyptian Army Massacres Tens of Copts During Peaceful Protest Sunday 9 October, 2011.
His Grace Bishop Suriel, with the presence of the Clergy of Melbourne, held a Press Conference regarding the barbaric attacks against our Coptic Christian people in Egypt.

The Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod Statement

The Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod Statement towards Maspiro's clashes between the Egyptian Army forces and Copts - 10 October 2011

The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church under the leadership of Pope Shenouda III met with seventy in attendance on Monday October 10, 2011 in the Papal residence in Cairo, Egypt to discuss the events of the prior day in front of Maspiro where at least 24 of our beloved children have been killed and at least 200 have been injured. We ascertain that our Christian faith doesn't allow us to use violence of any kind. But we also know that strangers implanted themselves among our children and committed acts that are more suited to their morals. Coptic Christians feel that their problems are always being repeated without accountability and without the due justice of the law. The Holy Synod invites all Coptic Christians to fast and pray for three days beginning Tuesday October 12, 2011 that God may bring his peace to our beloved country of Egypt.

Egyptian cabinet to meet over violence that kills 24

By Dina Zayed and Edmund Blair

CAIRO | Sun Oct 9, 2011 8:28pm EDT

(Reuters) - Christians clashed with military police, leaving at least 24 people dead in Cairo, and the cabinet called an emergency meeting for Monday, vowing the violence would not derail Egypt's first election since Hosni Mubarak was toppled.

Christians protesting about an attack on a church set cars on fire, burned army vehicles and hurled rocks at military police who they said used heavy-handed tactics against them. It was some of the worst violence since the February uprising.

The violence casts a shadow over the imminent parliamentary election. Voting starts on November 28 with candidates due to begin registering during the week starting Wednesday.

The clashes also added to growing frustration among activists with the army who many Egyptians suspect wants to keep hold of the reins of power from behind the scenes even as it hands over day-to-day government. The army denies this.

"This is a dark day in the military's history. This is betrayal, a conspiracy, murder," Magdy el-Serafy wrote on Twitter where he and other Egyptians voiced frustration at the army's handling of the protest.

 

The Health Ministry said the death toll had reached 24 with 213 injured, the official MENA news agency reported. It did not identify the dead but state television had earlier reported three soldiers were killed.

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf toured the area near the state television building where clashes erupted, MENA said, adding he spoke to those in the area to hear their accounts of events.

"What happened in front of the state TV building is exactly what happened on January 25," wrote Muslim activist Asmaa Mahfouz, referring to the start of the anti-Mubarak uprising.

Christians, who make up 10 percent of Egypt's roughly 80 million people, took to the streets after blaming Muslim radicals for partially demolishing a church in Aswan province last week. They also demanded the sacking of the province's governor for failing to protect the building.

 Tensions between Christians and Muslims have increased since the uprising. But Muslim and Christian activists said the violence Sunday was not due to sectarian differences but was directed at the army's handling of the protest.

'MALICIOUS CONSPIRACIES'

"Instead of advancing to build a modern state of democratic principles, we are back searching for security and stability, worrying that there are hidden hands, both domestic and foreign, seeking to obstruct the will of Egyptians in establishing a democracy," Sharaf said on state television.

"We will not surrender to these malicious conspiracies and we will not accept reverting back," he said in his address.

The cabinet said in a statement that it would "not let any group manipulate the issue of national unity in Egypt or delay the process of democratic transformation" which it said would begin with opening the doors to candidate nominations.

 Cabinet spokesman Mohamed Hegazy told Reuters the cabinet would hold a special session Monday to discuss the events.

"The most important thing is to contain the situation, see the way forward and the necessary measures to avoid any ramifications," Hegazy said, adding a committee of prominent figures from the church and Al-Azhar mosque would also meet.

Presidential candidate Amr Moussa and political groups said they would hold an emergency meeting Monday about the violence.

The army imposed a curfew on Cairo's Tahrir Square, the focus for protests that brought down Mubarak, and the downtown area. It was set from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., (0000-0500 GMT).

Pictures of smashed faces and dead bodies of what activists said were bodies run over by military vehicles circulated online, with angry comments comparing the violence used by the military to that of Mubarak's hated police in the uprising.

 "What happened today is unprecedented in Egypt. 17 corpses crushed by military tanks," Hossam Bahgat, human rights activist tweeted from hospital. "I saw bodies missing hands and legs, heads twisted away or plastered to the ground."

Protesters also took to the streets in Alexandria, Egypt's second city.

The government appealed for calm. In comments published on his Facebook page, Sharaf said he had contacted security and church authorities about the situation, saying the one ones to benefit were the "enemies of the January revolution."

(Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Michael Roddy)


http://www.reuters.com/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/10/us-egypt-copts-clashes-idUSTRE7981Q220111010

But before all this

But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. Luke 21: 12 NIV

Verses and Fathers Saying

In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength (Isa. 30: 15)



He desires to offer the chance of repentance to His entire beloved, confirming it by His capable will. Therefore, let us obey His great and glorified will... casting ourselves under His mercy.

(St. Clement of Rome)

I Am Too Blessed To Be Stressed

I'm Too Blessed To Be Stressed,
Too Anointed To Be Disappointed


I have a God who is almighty; who is sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team.

He is all wise and powerful; Jesus is His Name;
Though everything else is changeable, My God remains the same.

I refuse to be defeated! My eyes are on my GOD!
He has promised to be with me, as through this life I trod.

I am looking past my circumstances, to Heaven's throne above.
My prayers have reached the heart of God. I am resting in His Love.

I give thanks to Him in everything. My eyes are on His face.
The battle is His; the victory is mine; He will help me win the race!

I repeat, "I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!"

Quoted-Author unknown.

Verses and Fathers Saying

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise. Mic. 7: 8

Those who want to obtain righteousness and have the fear of God in them, if they fall, they do not despair but soon, they stand up again more active and more concerned about the good works.
(The Strong St. Moses the Black)