Dear Ms. JAHANGIR,
Before going through this complaint, we have to inform you that the situation in Egypt became so critical that it threatens the existence of the Copts in Egypt. We have submitted earlier a few complaints, but we have not heard that any action has been taken.
We sincerely hope that this time the International Community would take an immediate action.
The latest sectarian violence has happened in a small town beside the known seaport of Marsa Matrouh, the North West city of Egypt on the Mediterranean. The small town is called El Rifiya.
On Friday, March 12, 2010 after the afternoon prayer at 17.00 hrs., the Sheikh of the mosque has provoked Muslim mob to attack Christian congregation during prayers in the church. The church is attached to the services building of the Coptic Church in the small town. The mob estimated to be between 2000-3000 of Bedouins and fanatic Muslim Salafis. They hurled stones at the building. The 400 congregation and four priests were trapped inside the building.
Fr. Matta Zakarya said, that after the mob hurled stones at the building, they went inside and assaulted the people mostly families, women and children. Neither the security forces nor the fire brigades were sufficient. Only two fire brigades were available. Witnesses said the number of security forces was not enough to contain the Muslims, and tear gas was used against them.
The hurled stones have caused numerous serious injuries among the Copts, mostly at their heads. The injured were about 25, including women and children. They are treated at Matrouh Hospital. Eighteen houses, twenty-two shops and sixteen cars were destroyed and burnt down.
Father Matta stated that twenty eight people have no homes and had to seek refuge in the services building.
Security forces enforcement from Alexandria have arrived the following day, Saturday. They escorted the 400 congregation from the building to their homes.
The pretext used by the Muslims for this attack was the erection, without permission, of a wall surrounding the plot of land acquired by the church adjacent to the Services building. The mobs were provoked by the Mosque's Imam Sheikh Khamees. He yelled at them saying that they do not want 'enemies' to live among them.
The mob moved on to other areas not protected by security, vandalizing and torching Coptic homes, shops, businesses and cars in the streets surrounding the services building. They were chanting religious and Jihadi slogans, during which they vandalized and burnt houses and shops, amid the cries of terrorized Coptic women and children.
Copts whose relatives were held inside the services building, gathered in front of the State Security in Matrouh to protest the attacks on them and the delay in the arrival of the security forces to protect them.
Fr. Matta said that a meeting is to be held in the morning of Saturday 13th, between the Church, the State Security and the Muslim elders in the area, because the Copts are frightened especially the women and the children who were indoors as the Muslim mobs torched their homes and who are now extremely traumatized. Please note that such meeting will be held after the devastation of the Coptic properties and the cars. In fact, the main purpose for such meeting is to absolve the perpetrator of their liability. Any way, everyone needs reassurance that such an attack will never happen again.
It is noteworthy that the services building, called Archangel Michail Charity, which serves 300 Coptic families, was demolished by security forces on April 26, 2009, under the pretext of questioning the ownership of land, but the matter was later clarified and a license for the construction of a replacement services building was obtained from the Governor of Matrouh.
The Bishop of Matrouh diocese, Bishop Bakhomios, said that the church has bought a 180 meter tract of land adjacent to the services building, and the church erected a fence on the borders of the land to protect it from any attempt of trespass. But an Imam has taken advantage of that legal action to promote sectarian sedition, and to attack the Copts and to burn down their houses and stores.
Father Matta said that the security forces have arbitrarily demolished the building in April last year questioning the validity of the possession of the land which was belonging to a Christian. When the validity was clarified, the matter was cleared and the building was reconstructed. Classes were assigned for illiterate individuals, Muslims or Christians. Also a hospital serving all the inhabitants, Muslims and Christians, was established. Trees and bushes were planted embellishing the area in a civilized manner. During the construction, no problems have been raised until it was almost finished and only painting was left to complete the building. At this point, somebody has incited others against the Copts to ignite the clashes.
Please note that such provocation and incitement has developed through the speeches of the Imams at the mosques without any concern, remark, or reprimand from the authorities.
Also, the security forces were sluggard in protecting the unarmed Coptic citizens. The most serious matter is that those Imams or mob would never be punished or tried for their aggression. Such passive position from the authorities is interpreted by the Muslims as carte blanche to do whatever they want to the Christians.
Likewise, as usual, some Christians are arrested with the Muslims in compliance with the balancing policy so that reconciliation would be easily achieved. The Christians usually have no choice but to accept such policy, which is in violation of the laws and rules, because they have no other alternative. That policy impliedly encourages the Muslim extremists to repeat such aggression every now and then. The final analysis is that the Christians continue unprotected, and they would never obtain adequate damages from the aggressors or the authorities. Also the Sheikh who provoked the mobs will remain unpunished, a fact that encourages the sheikhs to incite such attacks.
Please take further notice that the church had to go through an amicable reconciliation, which is against the law, and the church has no other choice. The main purpose for such reconciliations is to protect the aggressors and to obviate applying the law.
Hence, we believe that the International authorities must interfere promptly and effectively before it is too late.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Awad Chafik and
Hanna Z. Hanna
(Attorneys at law)
