The only Christian in his army unit was found shot dead in a chair at the office of the military base he was stationed. On June 24, Bahaa Gamal Mikhail Silvanus, 23, a conscript in the Egyptian Army, was found with two bullet wounds to his chest, and a gun at his feet. Relatives who later saw the body also say there were wounds atop his head, as if he had been struck with a … [Read more...]
Bomb Placed Alongside Coptic Church Dismantled Before Exploding
Coptic Solidarity A bomb was placed alongside a Coptic Christian church in Egypt, but security was able to dismantle it before it exploded earlier today. The bomb was placed adjacent to the building of the Virgin Mary Church in Helwan city, part of Greater Cairo. It was reported immediately, and security came, effectively dismantling the explosive. … [Read more...]
Islamic State in Egypt: A ‘Fiery Summer’ Awaits ‘Worshippers of the Cross’
Coptic Solidarity After the foiled suicide attack on the ancient temples of Karnak in Luxor, Egypt—a tourist designation—the Islamic State has promised a “fiery summer” for the Christian Copts and Sisi government. The jihadi group vowed to unleash a number of suicide bombers—or “martyrs”—to target both groups. Abu Zayid al-Sudani, a leading member of the group, tweeted … [Read more...]
Egyptian School Principal: ‘As long as I am present in the school, no Christian pupils will be accepted’
Coptic Solidarity The principal of a preschool to primary school in Sohag, Egypt, has been openly refusing the enrollment of Christian students, simply on the basis of their religion. When Copts and others protested—the current law of Egypt is on their side—the principal unabashedly declared that “As long as I am present in the school, no Christian pupils will be accepted … [Read more...]
Egypt: Christian Testimony against Muslims Rejected in Courts
Popular Egyptian columnist Karima Kamal recently wrote that although the Egyptian constitution stipulates equality before the law, the judiciary does not apply this provision and refuses the testimony of Christians against Muslims in courts. Anecdotal evidence supports her claim. Some weeks earlier, the following letter was published on Arabic media: Yesterday I suffered … [Read more...]