Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on officials to hold accountable the perpetrators of an attack by a Muslim mob on Christians in a village in Upper Egypt, according to a Thursday statement by his office.
El-Sisi urged his government to take "necessary measures to preserve public order, protect [citizens] and property within the rule of law."
The Friday assault in Minya's El-Karm village was sparked by rumours that a Christian man was having an illicit relationship with a Muslim woman. Interfaith pairings are considered taboo in most of the country.
Muslim villagers set ablaze seven Christian homes and assaulted the Christian man's elderly mother, parading her naked in public, the Coptic Orthodox Church said in a statement.
Six suspects were arrested over the attack, the church said.
El-Sisi gave directives to the provincial governor to restore all damaged buildings in coordination with the Armed Forces within one month and at the government's expense.
Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million, have persistently complained of discrimination in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country.
Six suspects were arrested over last week's attack, the church said.
