Copts accuse Morsi supporters of violence

Former member of the Egyptian parliament and Secretary-General of the Free Egyptians Party, Margaret Azer accused on Friday the ousted president Mohammed Morsi’s supporters of violence against Copts in the Menia governorate in Upper Egypt. Azer told Arab Today, that the attacks against Copts was expected after their participation in June 30 demonstrations that toppled the Islamist regime. She refererred to slogans by Morsi supporters during their protests saying “Oh shame, Copts have become rebels.” According to Azar, Islamists think that Copts do not have similar rights to protest as Muslim Egyptians do. She also condemned the media’s disregard of the attacks on Copts in Upper Egypt, stressing the need to face violent acts with heightened security measures, pointing out that security forces’ intervention often comes too late. “More than one priest in Upper informed me that they have received threats of violence and I informed the authorities but they didn’t act until after violence had occurred,” Azar said. Egyptian Islamic group (al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya) denied any involvement in the attacks that took place in Bany Ahmed village in the Menia governorate of Upper Egypt. In a statement on Thursday the Islamic group said “Coptic websites are circulating calls for help after suffering from Islamists attacks in Bany Ahmed village in Menia; however this is contrary to the truth and reality.” The statement clarified the reasons behind the clashes: “The clashes started when a Christian citizen and a Muslim citizen argued about listening to an Islamist song; the Muslim was wounded, therefore his family clashed with the Christian family.” “Rumours about attacks on mosques and churches worsened the clashes, leaving 17 people injured, all were Muslims, including 3 from the security forces, whilst some cars and homes belonging to Christians were set on fire,” the statement continued. “The Islamic group and its political wing, the Building and Development Party, denounce violence that may cause chaos and sectarian polarization,” the statement concluded.