Weekend clashes in Egypt between minority Christians and Muslims have killed 12 people
and highlighted rising inter-faith tensions. The violence outside of Cairo that left
a church wrecked by fire and more than 200 people wounded was triggered by rumours
that Christians had abducted a woman who converted to Islam.
A local Coptic
Catholic bishop has criticized the response by Egyptian police and army, saying that
they were slow to act on the violence.
“They have sent in some security around
the churches,” says John Pontifex, Head of Press and Information at Aid to the Church
in Need. “But many people including … Bishop Antonios Aziz Mina say the army and the
police have not reacted as quickly as they could have, and they’re trying to remain
neutral.”
The current political climate in the country is also causing fears
among the Christian minority that Muslim extremists may rise to power and impose Sharia
law. Pontifex says this possibility is causing Christians to flee.
“There are
reports already that many have left,” he told Vatican Radio.
“There is this
great fear and great uncertainty that many people feel about the future for Christianity
in an area where all the time there are reports coming through of Christians saying,
‘We want to leave, we do not feel safe here.’”
Listen to John Pontifex’s interview
with Kelsea Brennan-Wessels: