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Lawyers of Christmas Eve Murder Victims Request Change of Judge in Egypt

Lawyers representing the Christian victims of the Nag Hammadi Christmas Eve massacre announced that they will request a change in the panel of judges at the Supreme State Security Emergency Court in Qena , due to the illegal measures taken by the court and the adjournment without reason of the trial.

The court session at the Qena Court started at midday on April 18, 2010 amid heavy security and was attended by the media. The three defendants, Mohamed el-Kamouny, Qurashy Abu-Haggag and Hendawy Hassan, pleaded not guilty. Qurashy, who had previously testified that he was present with el-Kamouny in the car during the shootings, has retracted his testimony, claiming that it was made under police pressure.

Egyptian State Security Demolishes Anglican Church, Assaults Pastor

An Anglican Church pastor and his wife were assaulted by Security agents in Luxor on March 18, 2010, in order to evacuate them by force from their home and demolish Church property. Out of the nearly 3000 sq. meters of buildings attached to the Church, only the 400 sq. meter prayer hall was left standing.

Pastor Mahrous Karam of the Anglican Church in Luxor, 721 km from Cairo, said that the Church was still in negotiations with the Luxor authorities the day before regarding a replacement for the community center building which lies within the Church's compound, and was told the authorities were still considering their options. Early next morning, a 500-man force of Central Security and State Security blocked all roads leading to the Church compound, forced their way in and broke into the pastor's residence, dragging the family out by force.

In an effort to save the buildings from demolition, the Pastor sat on the fence of the Church compound, to prevent the demolition work, but was beaten and dragged away, reported Katiba Tibia News

Press Release

Canadian Coptic Community in Toronto Rallies

on Saturday January 30,

to protest drive-in shooting of Coptic Christians,

Egyptian discrimination.

Toronto, ON – In a response to a spate of murders committed by Muslim extremists against Coptic Christian minority in Egypt – and the refusal of the Egyptian authorities to protect the Coptic minority – the Canadian Coptic community and its friends will gather in Toronto on Saturday January 30, 2010.

The community made the following statement:

“ Coptic Christians in Egypt have long been treated as second class

citizens, however, we are horrified by the recent violence

committed against our community. Eight parishioners were

murdered after the Coptic Christmas Liturgy, including a child.

Scores of survivors are injured, and homes and businesses have

been destroyed.

Egyptian Christian Framed in Sexual Assault Case

By Mary Abdelmassih

The drive-by shooting of Coptic Christians by extremist Muslims after celebrating the Orthodox Christmas Eve midnight Mass in the southern town of Nagaa Hammadi on January 6, causing the killing of 6 and wounding of 9, (AINA 1-7-2010) was condemned by public opinion worldwide.

To contain the damage of tarnishing the "image" of Egypt and to minimize the repercussions of the massacre, government spin doctors tried to condition public opinion into believing and accepting the scenario set out by State Security that the killing was "criminal and individual" rather than a "sectarian" affair.

Egypt's Interior Ministry said the Nag Hammadi attack was a retaliation for the sexual assault of a Muslim girl by the Christian man Girgis Baroumi Girgis in the town of Farshout last November. This alleged rape crime was used by security officials, politicians, and the media to justify attacks against Copts in Farshout last November and in Nag Hammadi .

Surprisingly, Prosecutor-general Adbel Meguid Mahmoud, also came out linking the killing to the rape

List of sectarian incidents against the Copts in Egypt during the 40-year-old

Events of the attack on Christians in the era of Gamal Abdel Nasser
Attack on a church on the outskirts of Luxor 1968
There was a battle unfortunate and painful years in the cemetery Bakhmim Copts were killed and dozens wounded Vihamchristi 1970

Events of the attack on Christians in the era of Mohamed Anwar Sadat
Set fire to the Assembly of the Bible House Bakhankp 1972
Brutalization of Muslims during Ramadan celebrations and breaking shops Christians and Church of the Archangel in Assiut, 1975
Iatdaet and killed with knives for some Christian students Boiade Islamic groups in the Assiut 1978
Islamic groups attacked Christian students living on campus in Alexandria, 1980

Express Concern Over Recent Killings in Egypt

January 19, 2010

The Honorable Hosni Mubarak

President

The Arab Republic of Egypt

Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt

3521 International Ct NW

Washington DC 20008-3023

Dear Mr. Mubarak:

We write today to express our grave concern regarding numerous reports that have emerged of six Coptic Christians and one Muslim security guard who were tragically killed following a Christmas Eve service in the town of Naga Hamady in Qena province, Egypt.

Initial press accounts indicate that a gunman accompanied by two others drove by the church opening fire on the worshipers as they exited the service. Additional reports indicate that thousands of mourners in Naga Hamady that turned out to show their support for the victims' families at the funeral were

For Muslim women, respect cuts both ways

By Natasha Fatah CBC News

When you think of Buenos Aires you're more likely to envision Catholic churches and Virgin Marys, not so much minarets and Muslims. But, much to my surprise, South America's largest mosque can be found in Palermo, one of Buenos Aires's most fashionable districts.

The King Fahd Islamic Cultural Centre is an enormous structure surrounded by sweet smelling jasmine flowers and heavy-duty security.

I hadn't come to Argentina to go to mosque but out of a mixture of journalistic curiosity and tribal obligation I decided to pay a visit. Catholics aren't the only ones ridden with guilt.

But unlike the Catholic churches all around the city, you can't just enter King Fahd's mosque whenever you feel like it.

You have to answer a series of questions posed by the guards at the security barrier. And you can only visit two days a week, at noon, for a brief, guided tour.
Natasha Fatah at the King Fahd mosque in Buenos Aires. Not her usual attire. (Photo courtesy Chris Kayaniotes)
When I arrived at the King Fahd, the tour group had already entered the mosque. The security guard asked me a few questions and, upon realizing that I was a Muslim, said that I would have to cover up with a Saudi-issued cloth.

Out of respect for the institution, I took the black, polyester garb he gave me and proceeded to drape myself.

Then another man, maybe an imam, maybe an overzealous congregant, came over and pointed at my feet. I was wearing sandals and my feet were exposed despite my new black tent.

He told me first in Spanish and then again in English for effect, "I shouldn't see your feet." I told him, if I cover my feet then I can't walk.

American Muslims and the Question of Loyalty

By Abdullah Al Araby

Today is the fifth of November, 2009, and the hot news that is circulating the American and international media comes from Texas. An American officer of Palestinian Islamic heritage opened fire on his American officers’ colleagues in Ft. Hood, killing at least thirteen and injuring thirty while he was crying “Allaho Akbar” (God is great). A guard at the camp shot him four times to stop him; otherwise the causalities could have been greater.

The details are still coming out but from what we know so far, the name of the attacker is Major Nidal Malik Hasan; he works as a psychiatrist in the armed forces. He volunteered to join the military and was educated at the expense of the American military until finishing medical school and specializing in psychiatry

Intimate Photos of Muslim Girl Spark Riot Against Christians in Egypt

(AINA) -- Sectarian violence targeting Christian Coptic inhabitants of the Upper Egyptian town of Dairout, 313 kilometers south of Cairo, erupted on Saturday, October 24. Hundres of Muslims, mainly from Al-Azhar Institute in Dairout, and secondary school students chanted 'God is Great' while attacking and looting Christian-owned homes and businesses, as well as churches and the Coptic Orthodox Diocese building. They were demanding revenge from the Christian young man who "shamed the Muslims."

COPTIC BLOGGER IS GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN CONVERTING TO ISLAM OR JAIL WITHOUT TRIAL.

Arabic article BY Medhat Eweeda

Translated By Dola Andrawes & Mohsen Edward

If you have any doubts about the persecution of copts by the Egyptian Government in Egypt, here is a true story for you. The story of a Coptic blogger, Hany Aziz, whom I consider lucky that we happened to find out about his story, as I am sure that there are tens of other people who go through similar situations without anyone knowing or hearing of them.

The star of the story is Hany Nazeer Aziz, a social worker in one of the public schools in Southern Egypt, in a town called Naga Hamadi, who has a blog post named (Preacher of Love).

Last September, a novel by the name "Azzazil's Billy Goat in Mecca" was published in response to Youssef Zaidan's novel "Azazil" (which Copts considered a massive assault against Christianity).

Since the the Egyptian law contains clauses that prohibit assaults against religions, the author of this new novel -who was known by Father Youta- was sought after by the Egyptian police and internal security officers. No need to mention that such actions are only taken when someone attacks Islam only, but when it comes to Christianity or other religions, you can say, write, swear, make fun of or accuse them as much as you like. As a matter of fact assaulting Christianity is not only allowed in Egypt, but rather encouraged by the Egyptian Government.

In numerable occurrences, some unknown reporters become famous just by attacking Christianity. They were granted awards, titles, money gifts in dollars, dinars and pounds. All that just for attacking Christianity.

Winston Churchill saw it coming...

By Mark Harding

Unbelievable, but the speech below was written in 1899!

Winston Churchill saw it coming

I am sending the attached short speech of Winston

Churchill, delivered by him in 1899 when he was a young soldier and

journalist. It probably sets out the current views of many but expressed in

the wonderful Churchillian turn of phrase and use of the English language,

of which he was a past master. Sir Winston Churchill was, without doubt,

one of the greatest men of the late 19th and 20th centuries. He was a

brave young soldier, a brilliant journalist, an extraordinary politician and

statesman, a great war leader and Prime Minister, to whom the Western world

must be forever in his debt. He was a prophet in his own time. He died on

24 January 1965, at the grand old age of 90 and, after a lifetime of

service to his country, was accorded a State funeral.

CRISIS ! WHAT CRISIS!

Salwa El-raheb

In order to understand the relevance of the title you have to have immsersed yourselves deeply in the culture whose language you wish to adopt. A simple google search will unravel it for the curious.

A personal message was left on my Paltalk- otherwise known as Pal zeft- account a couple of days ago, asking me to write articles in English about the 'Coptic Cause' for publication, because we need to appeal to the wider world and not just to our persecutors. Great thinking.

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