Up to 2000 people attended a protest in earlier today in Sydney to stand in solidarity with Coptic Christians in Egypt. The event was attended by Church leaders, Politicians, Community leaders and Amnesty Australia. Members of parliament from the Australian Parliament and NSW State Parliament were present and all delivered great speeches calling for an end to the persecution. The event received plenty of radio and newspaper coverage on the day including breaking news items focusing on the United Nations. A full report will be released within the next 24 hours.
Statement by Rev Hon Fred Nile, National President; Christian Democratic Party on the Violent Attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt. Our Christian Democratic Party is both shocked and saddened by the increasing, violent attacks on peaceful Coptic Christians in Egypt. These frequent attacks have escalated with the recent attack on Sunday 7th April 2013 when the funeral for four Coptic Christians, who were killed in sectarian violence in Khosous, was taking place in St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in Cairo. This attack resulted in a further death and many injuries. Upon leaving the Cathedral, Coptic Christian mourners came under gun fire and ran back to the Cathedral grounds for safety and shelter. As a result, the Cathedral staff came under “sustained attack by armed gunmen and by Egyptian Security Forces” as claimed by eye witnesses.
“Our Australian Government must make urgent protests to the President of Egypt, Mr Morsi, and request that he guarantees the protection of all citizens, especially the Christian minority surrounded by a Muslim majority” said Rev Nile. “It is vital that the Egyptian Security Forces protect all citizens without fear or favour. It is also essential that Coptic Christians are allowed to serve in the Egyptian Security Forces, at all levels of authority, so as to prevent any control by militant Islamists” said Rev Fred Nile MLC. Note: Rev Nile will be speaking at the Sydney Coptic Rally which will take place on Sunday 14th April 2013 at 2.30 pm in Martin Place, Sydney, representing the Christian Democratic Party as it stands in prayer support and solidarity with the Coptic Christians in Egypt.
Australia’s Coptic-Egyptian community has been shaken by the escalating attacks on Coptic Christians throughout Egypt. The Australian Coptic Movement Association (ACM) condemns the ongoing attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt. There are reports of ongoing attacks, deaths and injuries. It is with great sadness to confirm that the Egyptian security forces have been directly participating in the attacks themselves as clearly demonstrated on many privately owned Egyptian TV networks. The events which unfolded began when thousands of Coptic mourners were attending St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo to participate in funeral prayers for the Copts who were massacred in the district of Khosous only 24 hours before. Upon leaving the Cathedral they immediately came under gun fire and many ran back to the Cathedral grounds for safety and shelter. The Cathedral which also contains the papal residency of Egypt’s Coptic Pope Tawadros II then came under sustained attacked by Egyptian security forces and armed gunmen.
Coptic Christians have been subject to mob violence and persecution for several decades however these attacks have escalated and now occur in almost every province of Egypt from Alexandria in the North to Aswan in South. Coptic Christians are being persecuted and the Egyptian state has failed to protect them. Protests are being organised in cities worldwide in coming days including Sydney. Details are as follows:
