Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Wide condemnation from EU and US against Egypt violence
Published in Daily News Egypt on 10 - 10 - 2011

LUXEMBOURG: European Union foreign ministers on Monday condemned the worst sectarian violence in Egypt since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak and told authorities to do more to protect religious minorities.
"It is about time that the Egyptian leadership understands the importance of religious plurality and tolerance," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said, highlighting European displeasure following months of steadfast support.
Condemnation of the violence was strong across the board.
The White House and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation into violence.
"It's very important that the Egyptian authorities reaffirm freedom of worship in Egypt," said British Foreign Secretary Wiliam Hague.
Hague said he was "very alarmed" and Westerwelle said violence against religious minorities was "unacceptable".
The White House said Obama was "deeply concerned" about the situation and said it believed that minorities — including Copts — must be respected along with the rights to religious freedom and peaceful protest.
Spokesman Jay Carney said the "tragic events" in Egypt should not stand in the way of "timely elections and a continued transition to democracy that is peaceful, just and inclusive."
Ban called on Egyptian military authorities to defend "all faiths" in the country after the clashes and asked Egyptians to "preserve the spirit of the historic changes" witnessed during the Arab Spring uprisings, a spokesman said.
"The secretary general is deeply saddened by the loss of life in Cairo last night," said UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said it was up to Egypt "to protect your people, whoever they are, wherever they come from or whatever belief or faith they have."
At least 24 people were killed and more than 300 injured Sunday night in Cairo when a march condemning an earlier attack on a church in Aswan was met with intense violence by security forces and, according to eyewitnesses, thugs.
The rioting lasted late into the night, bringing out a deployment of more than 1,000 security forces and armored vehicles to defend the state television building.
"It is totally unacceptable that people, because they want to practice their Christian faith and life, are physically threatened. It is unacceptable," said Westerwelle.
Egypt's official news agency announced that dozens of "instigators of chaos" were arrested after the deadly clashes between angry Christians, Muslims and security forces.
Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovendal called for a strong condemnation of the violence. "Nothing in this world gives people the right to move into a religious fight. And I think it's a bit scary that we come to that point in Egypt."
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal called the violence "extremely worrisome."
EU's Ashton said the events in Egypt and violence in Tunis — where police used tear gas against Islamist protesters on Sunday — would be at the core of ministers' discussions in Luxembourg.
"We really do expect that Egypt will move towards its elections with the desire to see all people as part of those elections," she said.
The Cairo violence casts a shadow over Egypt's first parliamentary election since Mubarak's fall. Voting starts on Nov. 28 with candidates due to begin registering during the week starting on Wednesday.
"Egypt needs to move forward politically and economically against the backdrop of recognizing that what happened in the Arab spring now needs to turn into a real democracy of a country where people of a country where people can...recognize that their human rights are respected," Ashton said.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said he was "very worried", adding: "The authorities have the responsibility to protect each and everyone; also their right to express their opinions. So it was highly regrettable."
"We can only call on the Egyptian government to get to the bottom of these incidents as soon as possible and bring those responsible to justice," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told journalists.
"We encourage the Egyptian government to do everything in its power to foster an atmosphere of religious tolerance," he added, calling for respect for the rights of the Coptic Christian minority.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini urged EU "condemnation of the very serious violence against Christians, the Egyptian Copts," who he said were fleeing in "exodus."
Noting "an escalation" in violence against the country's Christians, Frattini said: "We hope the response of the Egyptian authorities will be more energetic than under (former president Hosni) Mubarak, which was insufficient."
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero "deeply regrets" the clashes, his office said in a statement.
"Spain calls for overcoming the differences between communities so that the spirit of the 'Arab spring' may be translated very soon into a peaceful and democratic future together," it said.
"The building of a democratic regime is the universal aspiration of all Egyptians, independent of their origin and religious belief. To that end, it is essential that the authorities pursue their efforts to guarantee Coptic citizens' their safety and the exercise of their rights."


Clic here to read the story from its source.