CAIRO: Egyptian Coptic Christians in Europe have joined a call by American Copts for a September 11 strike to coincide with the faith's new year. According to a statement from the Union of Coptic Organizations in Europe, they have thrown their support for the New Year's day strike by an organization of young Copts in the United States called “Copts for Egypt.” The union said in the statement issued on Friday that “the strike is the beginning of the right path for the struggle of the Copts inside Egypt, from the belief that what is lost is a right that should be demanded, with the hope to further Coptic activists demanding their rights, raising the voice of the Copts in Egypt and the world.” Medhat Qelada, Executive Director of the European Coptic Union, in a telephone conversation with Egypt's al-Youm al-Saba'a, said that supporting the strike is a legitimate right and form of expression over what is happening to the Copts in Egypt “from persecution and endless problems.” Qelada expects there to be much success with the first strike of its kind led by the Copts in Egypt, saying that “a large number of activists declared joining the strike.” However, the Coptic Church of Egypt has said they will not back the strike and have called on their members not to join the demonstrations, as it could “lead to furthering the sectarian tensions in the country.” Coptic groups abroad have been defiant in their demands despite the Church's antagonism. The American group has said the strike is aimed at ending reconciliation discussions with those involved in sectarian violence and have demanded Cairo institute a fair policy over the construction of places of worship. Qelada added that “if we look at the case of the Copts in Egypt, we find an increase in incidents of sectarian violence against them [Copts], especially in the South Valley, enough so that in two weeks the villages of Bushra, Baceleos, Al Hawayisliya, Ezbet George and Dafsh villages in Minya Governorate had witnessed blatant assaults on the monks where their bones were broken and the intransigence of the governor of Minya, in addition to sectarian incidents from the forced Islamization and the kidnapping of Coptic girls with the blessing and support of the planning of security agencies.” He also criticized the circulation of the customary meetings of reconciliation, “instead of law enforcement that results in the loss of the rights of victims. “The Coptic organizations of the European Union announced its support, because the strike is a legitimate right for all,” he argued. **reporting by Mohamed Abdel Salam BM
