19 Dead in Clashes Between Christians, Army Over Cairo Church Attack
- Posted on October 9, 2011 at 2:42pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Violent clashes eruped Sunday between violent clashes between Egypt’s Coptic Christians and security forces in Cairo. (Media credit: Al Arabiya)
CAIRO (AP) — Fierce clashes erupted Sunday between Christians protesting a recent attack on a church and the Egyptian military, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 150 injured, Health Ministry officials said.
In rioting outside the state television building along the Nile in Cairo, witnesses saidsome of the protesters may have snatched weapons from the soldiers and turned them on the military. The protesters also pelted the soldiers with rocks and bottles.
Coptic Egyptian demonstrators, one carrying a wooden Christian cross, set on fire an army vehicle during cashes with Egyptian army soldiers following a demonstration in Cairo, Egypt Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. Egyptian state television reports at least one soldier has been killed in riots that erupted in Cairo as Christians protesting a recent attack on a church came under attack. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
The clashes spread to nearby Tahrir Square and the area around it, drawing in thousands of people. They battled each other with rocks and firebombs, some tearing up pavement for ammunition and others collecting stones in boxes. At one point, a group of youths with at least one riot policeman among them dragged a protester by his legs for a long distance.
The Christian protesters said their demonstration began as a peaceful attempt to sit in at the television building. But then, they said they came under attack by thugs in plainclothes who rained stones down on them and fired pellets.
“The protest was peaceful. We wanted to hold a sit-in, as usual,” said Essam Khalili, a protester wearing a white shirt with a cross drawn on it. “Thugs attacked us and a military vehicle jumped over a sidewalk and ran over at least 10 people. I saw them.”
Wael Roufail, another protester, corroborated the account.
“I saw the vehicle running over the protesters. Then they opened fired at us,” he said.
Khalili said protesters set fire to army vehicles when they saw them hitting the protesters.
Television footage of the riots showed some of the Coptic protesters attacking a soldier, while a priest tried to protect him. One soldier collapsed in tears as ambulances rushed to the scene to take away the injured.
Christians blame Egypt’s ruling military council for being too lenient on those behind a spate of anti-Christian attacks since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in February. Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority makes up about 10 percent of the country of more than 80 million people. As Egypt undergoes a chaotic power transition and security vacuum in the wake of this year’s uprising, Christians are particularly worried about the increasing show of force by the ultraconservative Islamists.
Sunday’s rally began in the Shubra district of northern Cairo, then headed to the state television building along the Nile where men in plainclothes attacked about a thousand Christian protesters as they chanted denunciations of Egypt’s military rulers.
“The people want to topple the field marshall,” the protesters yelled, referring to the head of the ruling military council, Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi. Some Muslim protesters later joined in the same chant.
Armed with sticks, they chased the Christian protesters from the TV building, banging metal street signs to scare them off. It was not immediately clear who the attackers were.
Gunshots rang out at the scene, where lines of riot police with shields tried to hold back hundreds of Christian protesters chanting “This is our country.”
Security forces eventually fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. The clashes then moved to nearby Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the 18-day uprising that ousted Mubarak. The army closed off streets around the area.
The clashes left streets littered with shattered glass, stones, ashes and soot from burned vehicles. Hundreds of curious onlookers gathered at one of the bridges over the Nile nearby to watch the unrest.
After hours of intense clashes, chants of “Muslims, Christians one hand, one hand” rang out, a call for a truce. The stone-throwing died down after that.
In the past weeks, riots have broken out at two churches in southern Egypt, prompted by Muslim crowds angry over church construction. One riot broke out near the city of Aswan, even after church officials agreed to a demand by local ultraconservative Muslims, called Salafis, that a cross and bells be removed from the building.
Aswan’s governor, Gen. Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed, further raised tensions by telling the media that the church was being built on the site of a guesthouse, suggesting it was illegal.
Protesters said the Copts are demanding the ouster of the governor, reconstruction of the church, compensation for people whose houses were set on fire and prosecution of those behind the riots and attacks on the church.
Last week, security forces used force to disperse a similar protest in front of the state television building. Christians were angered by the treatment of the protesters and vowed to renew their demonstrations until their demands are met.
Editor’s note: This post has been updated since it was first published.
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Comments (74)
Sgt.Crust
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:49pmAnd in the end the Christian and the Jewish people will be persecuted. No worries my dear Blazers, onward Christian soldier, marching as to thee…and if your not Christian, and worship a toaster, if you are a Patriot, you will stand for Freedom, over tyranny? Correct?
Report Post »DTOM77
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:19amthe persecution of christians worldwide is a daily occurrence…. please check out Voice of the Martyrs website: persecution.com you can also order their monthly magazine free. this is a reputable ministry that publishes their budget/ spending each year…. also backed by the EFCA, the church’s equivalent to the BBB.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:21amChristians had better start arming themselves. the Bible does not say that we should commit suicide by turning the other cheek.
Report Post »ezeewhiz
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:41pmThere are few in the Obama administration that would like to drive something through a crowd of Tea Party Folks. Bet Nancy Pelosi would be first in line. Lying bitch!!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:09pmI am deeply saddened to know that my own country was responsible for promoting this release of Evil upon the World. Obama has open Pandora’s Box!
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:02pmGod bless the Christian’s under attack everywhere!
Report Post »Dougalug
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:58pmbut but but but ubama supported the overthrow of mubarack… why are things falling apart in egypt? Our muslim in chief is causing alot of damage to US and around the world!
Report Post »TheTruthLives24
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:57pmThank you Blaze for posting this. I wanna say that I am a Coptic Christian and I have Egyptian Parents but I was born here in the U.S. Today I have seen Disturbing Images of Christians being murdered and persecuted in the Streets of Egypt by the Military and Islamic Thugs. I want to say this is not the first time Christians in Egypt are being persecuted this has been going on for 1000 years or more. The point is Christians in Egypt need prayers so please pray that true change can come to Egypt. thank you. a lot of prayers are needed!!!!
Report Post »Chr1st14n
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:28pmIn that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”
[Isaiah 19:23-25]
God sees what is going on in Egypt he is not a stranger to it, what He said will come to pass, the bible says for a period of time there would be a cruel lord ruling in Egypt, but God also said there would be a God segregated remnant that will worship Him. Assyria is facing the same thing right now, there are plots to overthrow Damascus and it will happen, the bible says Damascus will be absolutely destroyed. We see it building up with the threats Turkey is making against Assad this very moment. Rest assured God is working overtime to protect His people in those places, and with our prayers those people will be protected through Gods help.
Report Post »TheTruthLives24
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 7:25pmThank you God bless. I agree with you 100% thank you for that Bible verse.
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:33pmSo much for the peaceful uprising according to Anderson Cooper. I’m done with TV.
Report Post »steveh931
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:22pmYou want to know the true intentions of the nations in the middle east? Go to memri.org. and support those that want to inform you. I’m not a spammer, check it out. I was very impressed with this site because it shows me how they truly feel about the western nations.
Report Post »staggerlee32
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:31pmYeah these people are sick. Memri.org is awesome.
Report Post »steveh931
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:39pmTheir protesting and tearing down a church under construction in Egypt, but in the United States mosque’s continue to be built with no protests. I’m not trying to start anything, but it just shows the contrast of live and let live. In 2001 there was about 1200 mosque’s in the United States, today there are over 2,000, and from what I’ve been told most of them are financed by Saudi Arabia.
Report Post »TONY BOLOGNA
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:17pmFear not the Reaper, for the Reaper, Grim or otherwise, shall bring lots of cowbell, and we all know that there isn’t enough cowbell in music! Also, wouldest thou splain why the Egyptians and the Christians clash with such vehement in their bosom? Shan’t the meek inherit the Earth? Thou who fighteth in thy name of all that is holy shall only develop hemorrhoids on thine ******** as observed in gospel rhetoric from the likes of Matthew, Mark, R2-D2, or JarJar Binks 3:12;35.8. Read it yourselves so thouest may discern the real reality from the Gospel according to JarJar Binks and not believeth such profound verbage from the likes of myself, a pundit of the lamestream media.
Beck was right again!!
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:26pmBoaxal jet zo Loaxapol, bel zo Loaxapol, Klix el etholwiso, skaxarr flick rets eb cewforr, pi wo axarr gned zaxat zolo disn’t oneugh cewforr din vusic! Arse, weurdoch zeu spraxain hupp zo Ogyptiaxans pi zo Stlichiaxans craxask um sust mohomonk din zoil fesem? Skaxan’t zo voot dinholit zo Oaxalth? Zeu he biddoth din zupp naxamo eb axarr zaxat dis wherupp skaxarr enrupp povorep whomellheids en zino ******** axas efsolvow din kespor lhotelic blem zo rikos eb Vaxatthod, Vaxalk, L7-D7, el JaxalJaxal Fints 4:17;49.6. Loaxad dit yeulsorvos se zeuoch vaxaupp iscoln zo loaxar loaxaritupp blem zo Kespor axacceldick te JaxalJaxal Fints pi jet foriovoth sust plebeuct molfaxago blem zo rikos eb vysorb, pit puctit eb zo raxamochloaxam vodiaxa.
Fong waxas lidd axagaxain!!
Report Post »BeeAlert
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:54amWtf?
Report Post »obxned
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:15pmThe Copts will be exterminated or exiled. It is just a matter of time.
Report Post »cdn standing 4 israel
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:04pmmy dear muslims (sarcasm)—————————keep it up , youre time is coming very soon
Report Post »georgiavietvet
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:24pmthe muslims are nothing more than satan worshipers. one day they will have to stand before god and explain themselves. i would love to be there to hear that conversation. i hope the muslims like heat, cause its going to be mighty hot where they are going. i don’t believe they will be getting any virgins there either……………………………………………….
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:34pm@GEORGE…..If you are a true believer you will be. It will be the greatest show on what was earth.
Report Post »Sevens
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:02pmWhats going on is that the NWO is forming a new Country made up of Islamic states. much like the USSR was and the European union.. not to mention like OUR STATES.. this is why Obama is trampling on states rights!!!!! They are partitioning the world off…
Report Post »vampiric aristocracy
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:02pmI support the fight of the christians,we need to be more proactive,or the evil of islamofacism will spread the gospel of the satanic koran globally. Its the ottoman empire again 21st century style,and must be defeated. Do christians realize that the birthplace of our saviour jesus christ,bethlehem,is now being destroyed in the hands of palestinian muslims?time to fight to destroy the evil!
Report Post »majorsco
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:58pmThe Christians in Egypt should be cautious. The Egyptian army is muslim and they’re just looking for an excuse to exterminate all non-muslims. Since the revolution, freedom of religion is gone. It will be an extremeist muslim state in no time. Anyone with intelligence can see that! I hope Obama is happy with the result since he spawned it!
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 4:03pmEventually coming to a town near YOU!….. Believers be ready. I for one will not be turning the other cheek.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 5:07pmI for one will adjust my cheek along the stock of my rifle, as it applies to the eye relief of my optic.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:52pmGood old fun loving muslims.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
momrules
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:48pmI hate Islam and it’s followers. God knows what is in our hearts so I’ll just speak the truth. I hate Islam.
Report Post »callmechristina
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 11:14pmif you hate the followers of islam then your heart is not in the right place. Did Jesus not say, “love your enemies”? Did Jesus not say, “if you only love your friends, what good is there in that? even the sinners do that”? How are muslims any different than others who don’t know the truth through Jesus Christ? Jesus conquered death FOR YOU not through hate, but through love. As Paul says, “love conquers”. Love and pray for muslims…so that they will know Christ. Look at Paul (when he was Saul) and the hurt he did to the church before he knew Christ. Any muslim (or anyone else for that matter) can be the next Paul..so pray and love..not hate.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:58am@callmecristina……………I will never believe that God wants His followers to love His enemy, Satan, and these people worship Satan in the guise of Allah.
Report Post »callmechristina
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:03pmevery person on this earth who does not believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him are following and worshiping satan in some guise or another… do we save these people from the delusion through hate? Did Jesus save you through hate? or through His love?
Report Post »Tovia
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:28pmOBAMA and Hillary, you have made a terrible call here as you continue to support and spread the lie that the Moslem Brotherhood, (under its new BS name…freedom and peace or some lie) Is a secular organization that eschews violence. There are 2 choices here, either you are totally ignorant to hold the office as the leader of the free world, OR you are for these racist fascists or wish to dominate the world and kill the “other”! Also, the Hollywood leftists, the leftist media etc, would be the first to go if these fascists realize their dream! WAKE UP!!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:20pmWell, well. Trouble in the paradise of the Arab Spring? There will come a time when Egyptians will beg for military tribunals! When the Muslim Brotherhood and Sharia Law have power firmly in hand the fun will begin in earnest. <-sarcasm.
I for one won’t watch the televised stoning or lashings but plenty of people will. Al Jazeera’s ratings should skyrocket.
Report Post »Vital
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 7:47pmJazzera is Obama’s favorite TV….he will be in the Oval office with Hillary watching Christians being killed and tortured, having his little victory party.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:17pmThe Army is all Muslim… and the Coptic Christians are considered the Lowest of the Low, where Muslims will not employ them, yet they organized themselves to collect Garbage, doing the Lowest Job for the Least Money. Without the Copts, the Major Cities will become Garbage Dumps, and Sickness and Plague will follow.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:21pmWait until the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power, then they will make the streets run red.
Report Post »smitty989
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:49am@LUKERW, now that’s not entirely true. Coptic Christians are also in the military (to include officers), attend college, go to private school, and are successful business owners. I know where you got the whole garbage collection idea from…on Al Mokattam Mountain live poor Christians who collect Cairo’s trash and bring it back for sorting & recycling. This was also the mountain moved by Saint Simon. It was a very neat place to visit. Here’s some more info on it: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/mokattam.htm
Report Post »maples
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:15pmI totally agree. Americans must be aware on what is going on in our country. They are slowly infiltrating our organizations and crying discrimination on different venues. Two Muslims in the prison in Ohio
Report Post »have got a judge to eliminate pork for all the prisoners. Also they are now in The Boy Scouts.
momprayn
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:26pmYes, I saw that about the Boy Scouts — they are EVERYWHERE – just waiting for the opportune time……….
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=352145
Great site re Islam here for info/action: http://www.actforamerica.com
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:14pm.
Report Post »You had to know this wasn’t gonna turn out pretty. Any time they start talking about Ahla, Virgins & Paradise someone or something winds up on fire or blown up……………
sabrinacle
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:12pmOMG I will be praying for those poor people. This is horrible. And you all know the MSM wont cover it because they want Christians to die. Thats Obama for you though
Report Post »PAWatcher
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:07pmA church near ground zero can not be rebuilt, but, the islamic culture center has been built and was opened with an art show about children……this has happened in America.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:01pmEgypt is lost. And remember, Obama supported the thugs!
Report Post »fallan
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 3:05pmI agree..Egypt and all the other countries of the so called Arab Spring will fall to Islamic fundamentalists and then Iran will really come to the fore.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 2:51pmEvil Nazis.
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