CAIRO: Sectarian clashes broke out outside a Cairo church on Saturday night, killing at least 11 people. Rumors spread that a Coptic woman willing to convert to Islam was being held prisoner inside the church. Residents say a group of fundamentalists known as Salafis – those who adhere to a literal interpretation of the Qur'an – attacked the church late at night, opening fire on citizens passing by. According to State television, 9 people were killed and 144 injured, but local human rights organizations have reported at least 11 people were killed. “There's no security here. There's a big problem. People attacked us, and we have to protect ourselves,” one resident told reporters. Egyptian police suddenly withdrew from Egyptian streets in late January, after a crowd of demonstrators outnumbered security forces during the uprising that brought the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak. And for the most part, security has yet to return to the country. In a bid not to anger Egyptian public opinion, police forces are only gradually returning to their normal business. Other residents blamed the attack at Saint Mena and the nearby Holy Virgin churches on thugs. “It was thugs who burned the church, not fundamentalists,” another resident said. Clashes between Coptic Christians and Muslims sparked at the dawn of the revolution in Moqattam, an eastern Cairo neighborhood, killing at least ten and injuring more than 100. In late December in Alexandria, two Churches were bombed ahead of celebrations for the Coptic New Year, resulting into 24 dead and numerous injuries. A group of 20 fundamentalists were consequently arrested, but rumors spread that officials from the Ministry of Interior were involved in the organization of the attacks, including former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly. According to many, Alexandria's bombings contributed to mounting tensions that brought to unprecedented demonstrations in Cairo's world-famous Tahrir Square. Christians are the only sizable religious minority in Egypt (5-10 million), forming 10-15 percent of the population. BM
