Egypt: Muslims force Christians out of church during prayer, police advise priest to comply

by Raymond Ibrahim • Jun 26, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Cross-posted from Jihad Watch

According to a story in yesterday's Mideast Christian News, Muslims in the village of Basra in Alexandria, Egypt, surrounded the local Coptic church, St. Lyons, during divine liturgy, "demanding that visiting Copts leave the church before the completion of prayers, and threatening to burn down the church if their demand was not met." The priest, Father Severus, hurriedly contacted police by phone asking for aid only to be told to comply with their demands, "and do not let buses with visitors to come to the church anymore." In face of such threats, Christian worshippers exited the church halfway through liturgy to jeers outside. As they drove away, Muslims hurled stones at their buses, and the priest was warned by "salafis and extremists" never again to allow visitors to the church, otherwise they would "destroy it."