More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Well, this isn't encouraging.
I've read a slew of articles coming out of the region on the events of recent days in an attempt to figure out exactly what caused yesterday's blow-up. Details are sketchy, and I caution that much of this -- though it's appearing in other outlets -- is unsubstantiated beyond Al-Jazeera (which, to its credit, has a man on the ground reporting direct from Cairo). Here's a condensed version of the information I've read.
The violence originated in the town of Sol, in the Helwan province (pop. 50,000, 7,000 of whom are Christian).
1. A romantic relationship between a Christian man and a Muslim woman, both from Sol, was discovered last week by the respective families. This resulted in two murders: first, the woman's father was killed by a Muslim for not having murdered his daughter as punishment for her having disgraced Islam; then, the victim's son (the Muslim woman's brother) murdered his father's killer. (Again I caution: I have not been able to find substantiation of this information; this is what I'm reading coming intermittently out of the translated press.)
2. On Friday, violent clashes between Muslims and Christians in the area resulted in two more deaths.
3. Later that day, Muslims descended on the Shahedain (Two Martyrs) church in Sol and burned it to the ground.
4. After the church was completely destroyed, the Muslims conducted a "mass Islamic prayer" on the embers.
5. On Monday, at least 2,000 Copts gathered in Cairo to protest the torching of the church and to demand a) that it be rebuilt and b) that the perpetrators be brought to justice. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, promised to rebuild the church before Easter.
6. On Tuesday, at least 1,000 more Copts gathered in Moqattam, a poor, working class district of Cairo occupied primarily by Christians, again to protest the destruction of the church. Copt residents of the area blocked a main north-south artery in Cairo.
7. Crowds of Muslims appeared in Moqattam to take on the Copts. Both sides began throwing rocks. The battle escalated, with Muslims allegedly petrol-bombing homes and workplaces and firing into the crowd. Local priest Samann Ibrahim told Agence France-Presse that the medical clinic attached to his church contained the bodies of "six Copts, all of them shot," and added that "[w]e also have 45 people who were injured, all of them, without exception, hit by gunshots. Others who were injured have been taken to other hospitals."
I'll provide more information as it emerges.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Those who believe these people can be reasoned with form a line over there. That's right. Right below the "Exit from Reality" sign.
Sep '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Thank you for reporting this Judith even though its unwelcome and bracing news. For the suffering Copts, this will be a very long Lent.
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Wow. Scary and fascinating. Thanks, Judith, for all the research that surely went into this and, of course, this report.
May '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
This is one of those "moderate" Muslim nations.
Nov '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
As thoroughly depressing as I find this whole story, I have to admit that I'm glad that it didn't start out with the Muslim family killing the woman. The honor killing thing is just so hideous.
May '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Now let's imagine what these people would do to their fellow citizens if given democratic power.
May '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
What was that about Islam being the religion of peace? Some of those adherents remind me of our own Christian wackadoodle - "Rev." Phelps.
Nov '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
And to think that MSNBC claimed Obama "knocked this one out of the ballpark."
Nov '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Pro-democratic forces in Egypt need to step up to the plate now and take some action. And I don't mean the typical Kumbaya displays, such as Wael Ghonim's suggestion in his tweet yesterday:
This friday, Lets connect all the mosques and churches with the Egyptian flag. Please spread this event: http://on.fb.me/fS4b4N
Dec '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Lucy Pevensie: As thoroughly depressing as I find this whole story, I have to admit that I'm glad that it didn't start out with the Muslim family killing the woman. The honor killing thing is just so hideous. · Mar 9 at 12:06pm
Indeed.
When I first read about this, I said a silent Thank You to the father for loving his daughter more than the approval of his religion.
A welcome bit of variance in an otherwise repetitious series of events.
Muslims incensed by some tiny every day occurrence, muslims riot, innocent people die, stuff gets burned down and broken. Must be Tuesday.
Jul '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
At least Egypt is not cursed with horrible bigotry, like America.
Jul '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
More details here on the latest violence against Christians in Egypt.
Oct '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Christians in Egypt are doomed. They need to all move to the Sinai and try to form a new Christian nation - a Christian version of Israel. All the Christian (and non-Muslim) refugees from Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, etc. could join them there.
Or maybe Israel could offer them asylum.
Edited on Mar 10, 2011 at 6:45amMay '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Interesting, if I read it right, that the first two murders were of Muslims, by Muslims. And interesting that it was then used as a pretext to blame the Christian population. If only those nasty Christians would stop trying to seduce our daughters-- the horror!-- then we wouldn't be forced to kill each other!
Islam takes any excuse, or makes one up, as a pretext for committing violence in the name of Allah. The practice of finding pretexts for violence is well established in Islamic history.
By the way, many of the Copts, for historical reasons but also due to the prejudices of the Muslim majority, are relegated to trash-sorters in Egypt. Interestingly, many of them don't want to leave that way of life, because it's the only way of life where they can be relatively left alone to practice their beliefs as they wish.
Feb '11
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Some Muslims can rise above the violent barbarism they are bred into, but not too many, it seems. What they learn from the Koran and their Friday "prayers" is hate and violence for non-Muslims. It's amazing there are any Copts left in the land in which they were once 100%. Muhammad was an assassin, a liar and a man of cruelty. Since he is the ideal for all to emulate (forget concepts such as right and wrong), what can we expect but this?
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
It will indeed. Thank you too, Pseud.
You're most welcome, Ursula.
The whole genesis of this story is appalling and heartbreaking on many levels. The patriarch, the daughter's doomed love affair, the son who avenges his father's murder -- a three-act tragedy even before the violence turned outward toward the Christians.
I trust you've seen and enjoyed Niall Ferguson's delicious hammering of the MSNBC talking heads on this one.
Edited on Mar 10, 2011 at 11:26pmRe: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
I've been keeping a close eye on AINA's posts. They were reporting about appalling Muslim-on-Christian violence even while the Tahrir protests were still going on, before Mubarak's exit. Compelling as it is, I've been reluctant to pass on their information because I have yet to find external confirmation of any of it. I'm still trying to determine how reliable they're considered to be.
I believe it's essential that violence between the groups be reported, but it must be credible or the true will be disbelieved along with the untrue, which does a terrible disservice to the victims. I don't mean by that to cast aspersions on AINA. I mean only to say I haven't yet been able to figure out how credible they are.
Edited on Mar 10, 2011 at 11:24pmRe: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
On one of the podcasts I did with Claire, I actually floated the idea that we find some way to offer the Egyptian Christians asylum -- and Claire made the obvious rebuttal, which is that Israel is not in a position to offer asylum to everyone on earth who is the target of sectarian violence. That is certainly true, but I confess on a personal level to feeling a strong sense of identification with Christians who are violently targeted by Muslims. I would be very proud if Israel found a way to help them -- and not only on the grounds of "co-target" solidarity, but also as an expression of kinship with Israeli Arabs who are Christian.
Your idea about the establishment of a Christian state in the Sinai makes the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. That is a novel waiting to be written.
Edited on Mar 10, 2011 at 11:21pmRe: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Yup. The population of Moqattam, the poor neighborhood where the violence erupted on Tuesday, consists primarily of Copt garbage-collectors.
Edited on Mar 10, 2011 at 11:23pmSep '10
Re: More Details on the Christian-Muslim Clashes in Cairo
Judith, I was very impressed with that discussion. Claire's point was well taken and though I'm with you on this one, I do wonder how that will ultimately affect Jewish-Christian relations in the region, given that story I linked to in your press junket thread about tension among the Holy See in Rome, The Franciscans, and the Israeli parliament. I have to admit I have a great deal of trouble sorting out what is actually going on in Israel. If you could add some flesh to bones on it, I for one would be fascinated to read it.
Edited on Mar 11, 2011 at 5:14am