CAIRO: The Coptic Christian Church in Cairo issued a statement condemning Sunday night's clashes with the armed forces that left 25 people dead and hundreds injured. The church gave its condolences to the families of the dead and their best wishes to the injured. The statement assured that the Coptic protest was peaceful and was a result of the “recurring attacks on Copts and not bringing those responsible to justice.” The march turned deadly soon upon its arrival at the state TV building, or Maspero, when the armed forces shot at unarmed protesters and ran some of them over with armored vehicles, killing and injuring hundreds of people. The church said that this is considered “clear discrimination against Copts in Egypt.” They also called on all Copts around the world to fast for three days starting Wednesday “so God would send peace on Egypt.” Reports mentioned that the Coptic Pope Shenouda has advised Copts to not bury their dead without an autopsy that clearly states the causes of death, advice that most families are following, as hundreds of them protest outside the Coptic Hospital in Cairo, demanding truthful burial reports for their loved ones. BM
