Egyptian military accused over deaths

EGYPT’S COPTIC church yesterday severly criticised the country’s authorities for failing to prevent violence that left 26 dead and 329 injured during a protest on Sunday night. Copts stoned police and chanted slogans against the military as Coptic pope Shenouda III presided over funerals of slain Christians in Cairo’s cathedral.

The protest, prompted by the torching of a church in southern Egypt last week, erupted into the worst violence since the uprising began on January 25th. Three days of mourning were declared.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which assumed executive power on the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak in February, blamed “unknown” provocateurs and called for an investigation. Forty-five suspects have been arrested and suspects will be tried before military courts.

Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian initiative for personal rights called for an independent inquiry because of army involvement in the clashes. Egyptian prime minister Essam Sharaf warned of a “despicable conspiracy against Egypt”, pitting Muslims against Christians and the people against the armed forces.

Many Egyptians, commenting online and in the media, argued that the conspiracy is being mounted against the revolution by the SCAF which had announced it would step down in six months but intends to stay in power through to the end of 2013 after a new parliament and president are elected and a constitution adopted.

Senior Muslim and Christian clerics and political parties condemned the violence and called for national unity.

Several thousand Copts and liberal Muslims were set upon by armed men in civilian clothing on Sunday evening during a peaceful march from a poor Cairo neighbourhood to the state television headquarters. As the marchers joined hundreds of Copts and Muslim supporters holding a candlelit vigil, armoured cars ran them down, troops opened fire, and extremist Salafi Muslims attacked.

Protesters were pursued into nearby Tahrir Square, the cradle of the people power movement.

Salafis assaulted Coptic businesses and the Coptic hospital where dead and wounded had been taken. Rioting continued in Cairo until early yesterday and flared in Alexandria and two other cities.

Human rights activist Gamal Eid observed that the soldiers were “being very violent as they know they will not be held accountable and will use such protests to increase repression in Egypt”.

The arson attack on St George’s Church in Aswan on September 30th followed the announcement by the provincial governor that the church had been built without a permit, an issue which has strained relations between Copts and the authorities for decades. Due to a measure adopted during British colonial rule, Copts, but not Muslims, are required to secure presidential approval for the construction of houses of worship. Since this is rarely given, churches are often built without permits with the connivance of local authorities.

Copts, 10 per cent of Egypt’s 80 million, have come under increasing sectarian pressure since the uprising due to a breakdown in security and the emergence of radical Muslim elements.

Copts and secular Muslims have become sharply critical of the military for failing to curb sectarianism and provide protection.