Arabic: سلفي Salafism is a conservative movement of Islam that follows the ways of ‘forefathers' of early Islam. Salafis were oppressed during former President Hosni Mubarak's regime, with extreme censorship and irrational arrests. Since Mubarak's ousting, Salafis - along with the Muslim Brotherhood - have become much more vocal and publicly active. Most Egyptians fear the Salafi's influence in politics, especially Coptic Christians. There have been several protests by Coptic and supporting Muslims against Salafi violence and forceful nature. In reaction to Salafi's sudden rising appearance in Egypt, Coptic Christians decided to form their own Coptic Brotherhood and demanded to have the same rights as the Muslim Brotherhood in equality. Salafis have been accused of fueling violence and anger during the Imbaba sectarian clashes when claims that a Christian woman who converted to Islam was acclaimed to be kidnapped in Virgin Mary Church in Imbaba by Coptic priests and community. The Church was set on fire and the incident left 13 dead and more than 200 injured. Since the ousting of Mubarak on Febuary 11, 2011, Salafis have attacked Sufi mosques, united with the Muslim Brotherhood and claimed that Osama bin Laden died a martyr.
