CAIRO: The sectarian clashes that took place in the popular neighborhood of Imbaba have led to disappointed and angry reactions among many Egyptians. Riots broke out on Saturday after rumors spread about a woman intending to convert to Islam that was allegedly being held prisoner inside a church. The clashes led to the destruction of a church. At least 11 people were killed and dozens wounded. Hundreds of Copts protested on Sunday in front of the state TV building in Maspero. They announced an open sit in order to demand the punishment of those taking part in attacks against Coptic churches. The protests led to confrontations with the army, which attacked the demonstrators with tasers. After the army ceased to intervene in the demonstration, a group of residents from the area started to attack the protesters. The latter responded by building checkpoints around the area of the television building. Simultaneously, another protest took place in front of the High Judicial Court. Demonstrators were shouting: “Muslims and Christians hand in hand.” Silvana George, one of the participants, explained: “We have been living under a bad system for a long time, I think that the incidents yesterday are part of this old system, it will take time to improve it.” While the clashes in Imbaba have often been portrayed as conflicts between Salafists – a group of conservative Muslims who adhere to a literal interpretation of Islam – and Copts, the accounts of eyewitnesses are contradictory, with some accusing the rioters to be thugs from outside the area. Salafis made an official statement denying any involvement in the burning of churches. At the same time, around 250 Copts demonstrated in front of the American Embassy in Cairo demanding Western intervention to protect Copts. The move alienated many other opponents of the attacks against Copts. Silvana George stressed: “The calls for intervention are stupid, we can handle our own problems. Many Muslims hate what happened yesterday, Muslims stood in front of the churches to protect us.” Others are less optimistic. Mina Rizkalla, a lawyer for the Egyptian Union of Liberal Youth criticizes the picture that the media painted of the Egyptian revolution, which might be less positive. “Those who ignore the sectarian problems in Egypt believe in a fake situation,” he stressed. “The revolution did´t do anything, we are living in complete chaos,” he complained. The current atmosphere reminds many of the weeks preceding the revolution when a bomb attack against a church in Alexandria led to protests by Christians and Muslims against sectarian violence. In January, protesters criticized the Mubarak regime for failing to protect the Coptic minority. Similar complaints were heard at Sunday's protests. Demonstrators were chanting that Field Marshal Tantawi should step down. The interim government responded by announcing that it would sharpen legislation, giving police officers a green light to use live ammunition against thugs. While one might be pessimistic about the revolutionary achievements, the protestors in front of the state TV building demonstrated their revolutionary experience. As the army remained remarkably absent during the late afternoon, volunteers controlled the scores of people in order to avoid what appeared to be weapons smuggled into the demonstration. Men formed a human chain around a group of around 150 women demonstrating in the center. These precautions illustrated that demonstrators tried to avoid violent conflicts with opponents. As protesters prepare for a sleep-in in front of the state TV building, the political atmosphere remains ambiguous. The recent uprisings could aggravate existing tensions between Muslims and Copts, thereby overshadowing the revolutionary achievements. However, the solidarity protests of Muslims and Christians and the insufficient response by the army could equally lead to increased pressure towards a democratic transition. BM
