Rally on Tues, Jan. 19, 2010 in NY to Protest Massacre of Coptic Children on Christmas Eve by Islamic Terrorists
by Staff
January 18, 2010
NEW YORK, (christiansunite.com) -- In a horrific attack in Qena, Egypt on Christmas Eve, January 6, 2010, seven young Coptic Christians including children were killed and fifteen others injured. Three Muslim gunmen opened fire on a Coptic Church in an attempt to assassinate Bishop Kirollos of the Nag Hamadi Diocese. Instead of celebrating during Christmas Day, mourners filled the streets in a heartbreaking funeral procession for victims, among whom were children.Sources report that local police officials were aware of the attack ahead of time; they warned church officials that they would be not responsible for any threat after 10PM. The attack was in retaliation to the church's refusal to participate in government sponsored forced reconciliation sessions after a November 2009 attack by Muslims on Coptic properties.
*According to the 2009 US State Department Report on Egypt, this tactic is commonly used by the government to deter Coptic Christians from seeking justice.
"The Government continued to sponsor 'reconciliation sessions' following sectarian attacks, which generally obviated the prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against Copts and precluded their recourse to the judicial system for restitution."
The bishop called the attackers "Muslim radicals" and said "This is a religious war about how they can finish off the Christians in Egypt." Reliable sources say that the day after the massacre, Islamic radicals continued their attack by burning the homes and businesses of Christians in the area as police stood by and watched. Recently, there have been numerous reports of dozens of similar Muslim mob attacks on Christian homes and businesses that occurred in the presence of police. Additionally, reliable sources report that tens of Christians were unjustifiably taken into custody by the government in the days following the attack. There are countless examples of government torture and detention of Christians for no reason other than religion, some of which are mentioned in the 2009 US State Department Report.
Copts throughout the world are speaking out about the lack of justice for Copts in Egypt. Since the massacre, rallies with thousands of participants some carrying mock coffins have been held in Rome, California, Texas, Israel, Cairo and Australia. Within the following week, additional rallies will be held in NY, Washington DC, Tennessee, Arizona, France, Holland, Austria, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Greece and Australia.
For information visit: www.freecopts.net
