Nothing has changed Atfih since 2011. The attacks against the Copts and their churches that continued ever since!
The Coptic Church of Seoul village, Atfih, was attacked in 2011, and no one has been punished. Only few sessions of fake reconciliation were held to free the perpetrators and deprive the Copts of their rights. The same scenario was repeated on December 22, 2017 when hundreds of Muslims demonstrated after performing their prayers and attacked the church and the Copts based on rumors that a bill and a cross will be fixed in the church that have neither a dome nor a bell tower!
The angry mobs shouted ‘we will demolish the church in all cases’. Then, they stormed into the church and robbed it. The Copts have started praying in the church 15 years ago and the law of houses of worship bans preventing prayers in any church. They church followed the law and applied for permanent license according to the law.
It seems, unfortunately, that some codified churches are incited against by militants who try to shut them down for their own reasons. In fact, the crimes committed by these extremist perpetrators are basically terrorist attacks that they should be punished for. Instead, the attacked churches are closed to satisfy the criminals who wish the Copts go to hell instead of the churches!
The constitution and law should be respected. Moreover, praying is one of the basic rights of worship, and it is shame on those who call to close the church to please the hardliners. Copts have suffered a lot for their beloved country and this is the right time to give them their rights including freedom of worship and to prevent the customary reconciliation sessions and give a fair punish for the terrorists.
