I AM SORRY FOR BEING LATE IN REPORTING THIS but there are reports coming out of Egypt that a Muslim mob attacked a church on Sunday, Jun 21 in the village of Ezbet Boshra-East, El-Fashn*.
The mob smashed windows and assaulted Copts with clubs and white weapons, wounding 25 Copts. The most awful part of the report is that this was all done "in the presence and with the instigation of the State Security."(emphasis added).
It gets worse: The next day, El-Fashn prosecutors issued an order for the village priest, Reverend Isaac Castor, to appear and answer charges of sectarian sedition.
Apparently three Muslim women accused him of hurling stones at them from inside the church.
The priest remains holed up in the Church, together with 10 people and three children, ages five years and younger.
"As if I'm dreaming what went on, such savagery! It broke my heart to see my children (i.e. his congregation) treated in such a beastly and barbaric way" said Rev. Isaac to Coptic News Bulletin. "It is as if we are back to the Era of Diocletian"
The report also indicates that homes of nearby Copts were broken into on Sunday by the Muslim mob, which included women, assaulting the residents including young girls, and destroying their furniture and looting electrical equipment.
Human rights organization 'Sunshine' said that what is happening now in El-Fashn is a new trend in the violations carried out by the State Security against Coptic clergy.
Bishop Estephanos, who staged a sit-in said, "We will all pray. Since matters reached this stage, if necessary we will all become martyrs. Our Coptic Church has been built on the blood of martyrs."
You can find the full report here and an update here.
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*El-Fashn is in Beni Suef region of Upper Egypt, north of Minya
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