The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom warned that radical attacks on Christians in Egypt are spiraling out of control.
"It is regrettable that the time has come yet again to speak of
heightened, targeted attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt.
Tensions against Egypt's indigenous Christian community have again
escalated over the past few months, and will spiral even further if not
immediately addressed," said Bishop Angaelos.
The attacks come as rumors fly over affairs between Christians and Muslims and over rumors of new churches being built.
"At their most brutal, these recent attacks have culminated in the
burning of churches and places of worship, the stripping and public
parading of 70-year-old Souad Thabet, and the senseless murder of Father
Raphael Moussa," he said.
Thabet was made to walk naked through a village by a Muslim mob in
Menia, Egypt. In May, Christian homes were looted and destroyed.
In June, a Christian home was set afire by a mob of about 5,000 because
of a rumor the house was set to become a church. That month, a Coptic
priest was shot and murdered in Al Arish.
This month, a Coptic pharmacist was stabbed and beheaded; five
Christian homes were torched; a Coptic Church was burned; a 27-year-old
Coptic Christian man was stabbed to death; and the families of priests
were attacked in the village of Tahna al-Gabal.
"There has been a spiral of attacks in the last three months. They are
almost weekly now,” Bishop Angaelos said. “Egypt is in a very vulnerable
position. People are frustrated and vulnerable to radicalization."
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