Christian leaders in Europe, the US and Africa are to take action to help protect Egypt's churches from terrorist attacks by the Muslim Brotherhood, according to statements made by figures in the Egyptian Coptic Church. According to reports, the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC) has also been in touch with Church leaders in Egypt to discuss the attacks on churches by Muslim Brotherhood supporters. Egyptian clerics have told officials in the European and American churches that Egypt's Christian community is coming under terrorist attack, and they have urged them to call upon their governments to stand behind the Egyptian army and police in their current confrontations with the Brotherhood. WCC Secretary-General Olav Fykse Tveit and other WCC members have voiced concerns over the recent attacks on Egyptian Christians, their property and their places of worship. On 15 August, Tveit sent a letter of solidarity to WCC member churches in Egypt, noting that, “the World Council of Churches and its member churches are greatly concerned by the violent turn of events in Egypt and call for an immediate end to the violence from all sides. The World Council of Churches calls for prayer for all Egyptians for healing, justice and peace. The only way forward is for mutual recognition as equal citizens within Egypt, sharing responsibilities and authority, accepting the diversity of political opinions and religious beliefs.” “We deeply regret the attacks against several churches and properties of the Christian community in different areas of the country that have occurred in the last days,” Tveit wrote, adding that “we are thankful to see that the churches of Egypt, even in this situation, are witnesses of God's peace on earth. Throughout history they have offered up many sacrifices and martyrs for their beloved country. Let us pray for all the Egyptians. May God grant them comfort, heal their wounds, and accompany them on their way to justice and peace.” Meanwhile, Andrea Zaki, president of the Coptic-Evangelical Organisation, recently held a meeting with Martin Schindehütte, bishop for ecumenical relations at the German Evangelical Church, who had voiced concerns over the current developments in Egypt. The German bishop said that the German Evangelical Church supported all those working for a peaceful and democratic future for Egypt. “We believe in fruitful cooperation between Christians and Muslims in various projects and initiatives in Egypt, a matter which can boost societal welfare and avert more polarisation and escalation in the country,” he noted. The Canada-based Middle East Christian Association (MECA) also denounced the terrorist attacks on the Egyptian people, especially the police and churches. “Just as we warned repeatedly of the perils of the Muslim Brotherhood assuming power, we still warn that going back or showing weakness now would throw the entire country into civil war,” the group said. The army and the police, MECA said, must “enforce the law and hunt down terrorists in every part of Egypt and strike them with force and resolve.” MECA also called on the Egyptian government to reject US aid, expel the US ambassador “within 24 hours”, and sever relations with Turkey and Qatar, both of which have supported the Brotherhood. For his part, Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Church, called on all Christians to bear the insults and attacks that had been seen stoically and to refrain from acts that could trigger further violence. “God's justice is harsh and severe and no one can withstand it. Any man, however long he may live, will face God and account for his deeds on earth,” the pope stated. In a television interview with a Christian satellite station, the pope described the attacks on churches as “brutal crimes” by people who had twisted religion for their own purposes. Safwat Al-Bayadi, the head of the evangelical community in Egypt, also denounced the recent attacks on churches. “I call on the government, through the police and the army, to play its role in protecting vulnerable people and buildings. We pray for their safety. I pray to God to give solace to the families of those who died doing their duty and protecting the homeland. I thank Muslims who refused to listen to the calls of sedition, who rejected what was happening, and who insisted on protecting their Christian neighbours and brothers,” Al-Bayadi said. Anba Moussa, the Coptic archbishop for youth, thanked General Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi for instructing the army to rebuild the destroyed churches. Suzi Nashed, a law professor at Alexandria University and a former member of the Shura Council, said that the actions taken by supporters of ousted former president Mohamed Morsi had shown the real face of the Muslim Brotherhood. She said that she had been disappointed by the failure of the security forces to protect churches, especially in Upper Egypt, and she called on the army to defend all public and private properties, including churches and monasteries. Nashed added that the delay in dispersing the Brotherhood sit-ins, caused in her opinion by resistance from former vice president Mohamed Al-Baradei, had given the Brotherhood the opportunity to regroup and organise its attacks. In another development, the Tourism and Antiquities Police decided to close St Catherine's Monastery and other religious sites until further notice. St Catherine's spokesman father Gregorius said that the monastery was fully complying with the measures imposed by the security forces protecting the monastery, though he added that the monastery had not been closed “for a very long time”. Aida Nasif, a professor of politics at Cairo University and a senior member of the Free Egyptians Party, voiced dismay at the inaction of UNESCO, the UN's educational, cultural and scientific organisation, in the face of the attacks on historical Christian sites. The historical churches that had been attacked, she noted, did not only belong to Egypt but were the property of humanity as a whole. Nasif said that Brotherhood supporters had burned a fourth-century church in Beni Mazar, and no amount of restoration work could begin to repair the damage. However, she also voiced the hope that “such terrible actions will not undermine the unity of all Egyptians,” adding that many Muslims had been helping to protect churches in the Cairo suburb of Helwan against potential attacks by pro-Morsi marauders. The Coptic bishop of Menya, Anba Makarius, denounced the attacks on churches in his diocese. Urging Christians to keep the faith, he said that “the scent of incense becomes more pervasive when it embraces the flames of fire. On this day, which some see as a bloody day, we are suffering grief and pain, but we trust that God will come to our aid. If suffering is something we have to go through because we are Christians, then it is a source of pride. To feel pain for Christ, to be robbed and insulted, to have lies told about us, these are things we can deal with. What has happened and what may happen in the next few days will only make us more attached to Christ and more loving of Egypt.” The bishop added that “nothing is worse than seeing your church burn in front of your eyes. It is as if you are watching your only son being slain, and you cannot do anything to save him. It is as if your home or your business was being turned to dust in front of your eyes, and you cannot defend them. But we trust in God, who protects us through faith, and God is able to defend His house. We will restrain ourselves when anger threatens to overtake us, and we will not give in to the lust for revenge that threatens to rise inside us. Indeed, we must pray for those who wronged us, for they know not what they do.” Over the past few weeks, churches have been attacked in many parts of the country, especially in Upper Egypt, the most virulent attacks taking place in the Menya governorate. The village of Dilga, near Deir Mawwas in the Menya governorate, was attacked on 4 July, after the army moved to remove former president Morsi from power. Several shops and a building affiliated with the Catholic Church were attacked on the same day. The Virgin and Anba Abram Church, the Mar Girgis Church, the bishop's residence and a nursery school were all destroyed, as were the homes of some 20 Coptic families. Armed assailants broke into the home of Iskandar Tawas, a Copt from Dilga, and shot him dead. Also in Dilga, the house of Father Angelos, the priest of the Virgin Mary and Anba Abram Church, was burned down. The Mar Mina Church in Abu Helal near Menya was attacked by assailants who burned down the entrance. A social services building and a clinic affiliated with the church were also torched. A report compiled by Coptic rights groups has given details of other attacks in various parts of the country. According to the report, in Menya the following attacks took place: the burning of the Evangelical Church in Gad Al-Sayed; the burning of the Amr Tadrus Church in front of the Sednawi stores on Al-Geish Street; the burning of the Khalas Al-Nofous Church; the burning of the St Joseph's Convent and School; the firebombing of the Anba Moussa Al-Aswad Church in Abu Helal; and the burning of the Mar Yohanna Church on Al-Souq Street. Also in Menya, the report listed the following attacks: the breaking and burning of crosses decorating the Virgin Mary Church; the burning of the Jesuit and Freres Society run by the Catholic Church; the burning of the High School Coptic Church; the burning of the Gunud Al-Masih orphanage; the burning of the Evangelical Church in Abu Helal; and the burning of the Baptist Church in Beni Mazar. Several pharmacies, shops and cars owned by Copts were burned in Menya. A dahabiya boat owned by the Evangelical Church was attacked, and the Al-Wadi YMCA in Menya was burned down. According to the report, in Assiut the following attacks took place: the burning of the Mar Yohanna Church in Abnub; the burning of the Adventist Church on Hosni Ragheb Street; the burning of the Mar Girgis Church on Qalta Street; an attack with rocks on the Malak Church on Al-Namis Street; the Coptic Bishopric in Abu Tig was besieged and threatened; and a chapel of the St Therese Church was burned. In addition, Coptic property in the Qalta and Gomhouriya streets in Assiut was attacked and damaged. In Fayoum, the Virgin Church in Manzala village in the Youssef Seddik area was burned; the Amir Tadrus Church in the same area was burned; the Martyr Damyana Church in Al-Zerbi village in the Tamia area was burned; the Evangelical Church in the same area was looted; and the Holy Bible Society was burned. In Giza, the Malak Mikhael Church in Kerdasa was burned; the Atfih Bishopric and the Karm Al-Rusul Monastery were looted; the Shahidein Church in the village of Sol near Atfid was besieged and threatened; and the Virgin Church in Al-Saff was besieged and threatened. In the Suez governorate, the old Greek Church on Baradis Street was burned; the Church and School of Bon Pasteur were burned; and the Franciscan Church was burned. In North Sinai, the Mar Girgis Church on 23 July Street in Arish was burned. In Sohag, the Mar Girgis Church, which doubles as the seat of the Sohag Bishopric, and its social services building were burned. In Luxor, several Coptic-owned shops were torched on Karnak Temple Street, including the Santa Claus shop, the Arkhas'hom leather shop, the Horus Hotel and the Maurice Pharmacy. In Beni Sweif, the Catholic Nuns School was burned, and the Mar Girgis Church in Al-Wasta was pelted with stones. Other acts of intimidation against Christian establishments included the following: the Mar Morqus Church for Copts in Menya was pelted with rocks; the Jesuit Church in Menya was attacked with stones; the Jesuit School in Menya came under attack with firebombs; the Mar Girgis Church in Bakus in Alexandria came under gunfire; the Anba Maximus Church on Street 45 in Alexandria was pelted with rocks; the Malawi Bishopric in Menya was hit with gunfire and firebombs; the Bishopric of Orthodox Copts in Deir Mawwas in Menya was hit by gunfire, firebombs and stones; the Mar Yohanna Bishopric in Qus near Assiut was pelted with rocks; and the Virgin Mary Church in Kafr Abdu was hit by gunfire and rocks. Most churches have now cancelled services usually held during the Feast of the Assumption, which lasts from 7 to 22 August. Due to security risks to worshippers, the Coptic Church has suspended all activities except morning mass. On 16 August, the Coptic Church issued a statement reiterating its support for the Egyptian army and police and denouncing the recent attacks. The statement said that “we appreciate the stand taken by faithful and friendly countries which have grasped the nature of the situation. We strongly disapprove of the falsehoods in the media that have been circulating in Western countries. We call for an objective view of events, and we ask for no political or international cover to be given to terrorist groups and those who work for them. They are trying to spread death and destruction in our beloved country.” The statement continued by saying that “we beseech the Western and international media to portray a true picture of what is going on, faithfully and truthfully. We offer condolences to the families and friends of the victims and of the martyrs who have fallen, and we wish a speedy recovery to all the injured. We declare our commitment to solid national unity, rejecting completely any attempt to drag the country into sectarianism. We consider any foreign intervention in Egyptian internal affairs to be unacceptable in every way.” “The hand of evil may burn, kill and destroy. But the hand of God is closer and will guard and strengthen and help us to rebuild. We believe that divine assistance will help our nation through these difficult moments so that we may attain a better future filled with justice and peace.”
