Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi supporters torch Egyptian churches Jerusalem Post

[dimbear]

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Muslim-Brotherhood-and-Morsi-supporters-torch-Egyptian-churches-323096






Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi supporters torch Egyptian churches
By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL
08/15/2013 01:36

Anti-Coptic violence taking place within "a general culture of impunity," Canadian MP Irwin Cotler says.
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Islamic supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi launched on Wednesday arson attacks against churches, resulting in the destruction of at least three buildings. Muslim Brotherhood supporters wreaked havoc on Coptic Christian businesses and property throughout the country.


Bishop Anba Suriel, the bishop for the Coptic Orthodox Church in Melbourne, wrote on his Twitter micro blog, “over 20 separate attacks on churches and Christian institutions all over Egypt.”

Suriel added, ”These attacks on the Copts is unprecedented in the modern era.” He called on the international community not to be passive.

The Egyptian state news agency Mena reported assaults on three churches, including the destruction of the Mar Gergiss church. AFP reported that the attackers tossed firebombs at Mar Gergiss in Sohag, on the west bank of the Nile. The city of Sohag has a large Coptic community.

AFP reported two churches were attacked in El-Menia province, causing fire damage to both buildings.

There were reports that one of Egypt’s oldest churches, the fourth century Virgin Mary in Minya, was engulfed in flames.
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Egypt is a poor country. It would be a dirt poor country, if it had more dirt. Egypt depends on tourism for income. Many of the tourists are Christians. Many of Egypt's Coptic churches are tourist draws. Now, given that, if you wanted to do something both stupid and evil, what comes to mind? Would it be burn them down?

An outrage and a tragedy at once. Nothing to do with Islam, I'm sure we'll be assured.

[trotsky]

1. This is religion at its worst.

Is it responsible for all conflict? Of course not. But for any existing conflict, no matter the underlying cause, adding religion in the mix is like tossing gasoline on a smoldering fire. Sometimes literally.

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

2. The loss of the historic churches is awful

and I'm afraid that they will soon turn on all the ancient Egyptian stuff from the relics in the museums to the temples, tombs, pyramids and other archaeological finds.

I hate to think this would happen, but one of these days we could see video of various religious groups using the Sphinx for target practice.

I recall seeing on TV in the last few years that the government sponsored museum groups have been working to repatriate artifacts that were taken for private and public collections in other countries. I have to wonder if perhaps some of those objects might have been safer still out of country.

Only time will tell if my fears come true.