Coptic Churches Burnt in Egypt

Coptic churches and businesses were attacked across Egypt today [August 14] by what was described as Muslim Brotherhood members and their supporters. The sectarian attacks followed the violent evacuation of Pro-Morsi sit-ins in the capital Cairo, in which many Egyptians were killed and injured.

On social media, many suggested that the Muslim Brotherhood has been fanning the flames of sectarianism, pitting Muslim against Christian, resulting in today's unprecedented wide-scale attacks.

The two sit-ins were for the supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood member, whose one-year reign was cut short on July 3, following massive protests calling for him to resign and for early elections.

For weeks, Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been camping in Rabaa Al Adawiya, in Nasr City, and in Al Nahda Square, near Cairo University, calling for the return to “legitimacy” or reinstating Morsi as the legally elected president of Egypt.

Researcher in the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Ishak Ibrahim tweets [ar]:

The toll for today's attacks in nine governorates is as follows: 20 churches, one monastery, two service buildings, three schools, three religious societies and one orphanage were burnt and seven churches were attacked and looted

In another tweet, he explains:

The targeting by the Muslim Brotherhood and their supporters of courts, churches, town councils and police stations is due basically to their disbelief in the state

The Big Pharaoh tweets:

He adds:

And continues:

Fouad MD shares a photograph of a church in Sohag which was burnt today:

Activist Dalia Ziada links the attacks on the churches to the evacuation of Pro-Morsi supporters. She writes:

Firas Al Atraqchi explains:

And Leil_Zahra Mortada notes:

In addition to churches, Coptic business interests were also attacked today. Schehtazade says:

And homes too were destroyed as Marian Kirollos explains:

With all the death and destruction, today remains a black day in Egypt's history. Yossra Farghaly sums up this sentiment with remorse:

On Facebook, Watani Weekly Newspaper shares a list of churches attacked in Egypt so far.

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