SCZONE chair showcases investment opportunities to US institutions, companies    Eight Arab, Muslim states reject any displacement of Palestinians    Egypt launches 32nd International Quran Competition with participants from over 70 countries    Al-Sisi reviews expansion of Japanese school model in Egypt    Egypt launches National Health Compact to expand access to quality care    Netanyahu's pick for Mossad chief sparks resignation threats over lack of experience    EU drafts central energy plan to fix grid bottlenecks and save billions    United Bank to roll out specialised healthcare financing packages, including green financing: Kashmiry    US warns NATO allies against 'bullying' American defence firms amid protectionism row    Egypt signs $121 million deal with Cheiron for oil output boost    Egypt's NUCA, SHMFF sign New Cairo land allocation for integrated urban project    Egypt declares Red Sea's Great Coral Reef a new marine protected area    Gold prices fall on Thursday    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt assumes COP24 presidency of Barcelona Convention    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Giza master plan targets major hotel expansion to match Grand Egyptian Museum launch    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    China invites Egypt to join African duty-free export scheme    Egypt calls for stronger Africa-Europe partnership at Luanda summit    Egypt begins 2nd round of parliamentary elections with 34.6m eligible voters    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt scraps parliamentary election results in 19 districts over violations    Egypt extends Ramses II Tokyo Exhibition as it draws 350k visitors to date    Egypt signs host agreement for Barcelona Convention COP24 in December    Al-Sisi urges probe into election events, says vote could be cancelled if necessary    Filmmakers, experts to discuss teen mental health at Cairo festival panel    Cairo International Film Festival to premiere 'Malaga Alley,' honour Khaled El Nabawy    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Omar Hisham Talaat: Media partnership with 'On Sports' key to promoting Egyptian golf tourism    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Copts' resume demonstrations in anger
Maspero demonstrations resumed as hundreds of Copts returned in rage after hearing that two of the three churches meant to reopen today remained close due to Salafist protest
Ekram Ibrahim Published in Ahram Online on 19 - 05 - 2011

Hours after announcing the suspension of their sit-in, hundreds of Copts resumed their demonstration with even more anger in front of the state TV building at Maspero after they were informed that two of the three churches scheduled to be opened today were not opened. The decision to resume the sit-in came soon after the demonstrators had to end the demonstration in response to Father Flopateer's and other heads of the protesters' decision.
“We will stay here till all our demands are met, even if we die because we are already dead,” one Coptic protestor told Ahram Online.
Among the promises made by the military council to the leaders of the demonstration was a schedule to opening the closed churches – three of which were scheduled to reopen today.
However, Virgin Church in Ain Shams, Cairo was not opened as hundreds of – thought to be – Salafists began protesting outside the church against its reopening. As for Maghagha Church in Minya, an employee at the Minya governorate's office of legal affairs said he has not received the necessary documents to open the church that was closed. As it stands, the only reopened church was in Assiut.
Copts are, in response, resuming their demonstrations today till the two churches are reopened. Early this afternoon, the sit-in organisers announced the a suspension of their protest until 27 May.
“Sixteen churches are scheduled for reopening by next Wednesday,” stated Father Bacelious Labib, a participant in the Maspero demonstration.
Several Copts have conveyed resentment, asking why the majority of society is allowing a minority to get away with such actions. “Very few Muslims are taking part in the demonstrations; I think they want us to leave the country,” stated one of the Maspero protesters.
“Why do Salafists protest against opening a church and not a night club for example?” questioned one Coptic demonstrator.
During the era of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, 48 churches were closed for different reasons. “Every now and then, State Security used to shut-down a church,” Labib stated.
Copts have been demonstrating at Maspero for 12 days now since the burning of Copts' houses and two churches in Imbaba. Pope Shenouda III previously stated that the Maspero demonstrations would not help the Copts' situation.

Clic here to read the story from its source.