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The Canadian Coptic Association
News Release
A report on recent inhumane assault on a center for handicapped children and orphans in Egypt, Muslim converts’ torture and Christian villagers’ attacked.
1- A Center for Handicapped Children and Orphans (Charity Isle of Patmos) was attacked on November 18th 2003 for the eighth time by Egyptian Army unit.
The Center is run by nuns from St. John the Beloved Coptic Monastery outside Cairo. The Center was also attacked recently on April 5th 2003 by armored vehicles, a bulldozer and tear gas bombs. It is also reported that the Minister of Defense has a personal “vendetta” against the Center since 1997 and he is behind the eight attacks executed by his officers and the promotion of a high rank army officer Mohammed El Tohamy who attacked the Center in 1997. It was reported that Mohammed El Tohamy was promoted to director of the Army Intelligence as a reward after his attacks!!
- Last August a similar attack targeted St. Antonious historic Coptic Monastery in the Red Sea desert, when the Red Sea governor ordered the local Central Security Guards unit to tack down a huge fence which was built to protect the monks from Islamic extremists after a previous attack on another Christian monastery and the murder of some monks.
- A month later in September 2003, a unit from the Central Security Guards in Assiut has attacked a historic small church during morning service, in an attempt to seize the church and turn it to a mosque. Members of the Security Guards were seen stepping on the Holy Sacrament, some deacons were arrested.
2- In a dispirit plea to International Human Rights defenders:
From a declaration by Muslim converts after the arrest of 22 converts and their aids including Christian priests in the city of Alexandria late October 2003. They reported of being severely beaten, tortured or raped. One is reported dead as a result of police brutality, “For many years, we have been struggling for the simplest of our human rights, the freedom of belief and the freedom of worship. We have been imprisoned, tortured, followed by the security police and subjected to all forms of abuse for our faith.. Many among us were terrorists, Islamist fundamentalists. We were burning churches, killing, treating our hole society as apostates”
3- Attack Leaves Christians Injured; Property Destroyed
On November 7th a Muslim mob attacked a number of Christians in the town of Gerza south of Cairo. Christian homes, crops and businesses were destroyed and several people were injured. At least five were hospitalized. Islamic militants were angrily protesting plans for a church building in the town, which is sadly a common reaction today that faces a new church construction in most places in Egypt.
However it was not a surprise that the police arrived after few hours These continuous assaults will never seize unless international Human Rights organizations pay more attention and request direct investigation into the violations.
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