Christians fear violence in Egypt

(Vatican Radio) Supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Mursi continued to hold protests in Cairo on Thursday despite warnings from the country’s interim government. Scores of people have been killed in protests since the Muslim Brotherhood president was deposed by the government early last month. The decision to remove Mursi from office in July came after months of protests against his regime.

The nation’s Christian minority feels threatened by the protests.

We spoke with Fr Rafic Greiche, the press office director of the Catholic Church in Egypt, about the latest developments in Egypt:

“There are many [Muslim Brotherhood] militias in many and various spots in Cairo, and also other cities of Egypt,” said Father Rafic Greiche, the press office director of the Catholic Church in Egypt. “They make manifestations, they throw Molotovs on the people and sometimes on the churches, they write on the churches very bad words concerning the Pope Tawadros, also concerning the army, they come to the priests [and call them] traitors. ... It is a climate of violence…and they people are scared.”

Listen to the interview by Ann Schneible with Father Rafic Greiche: