The Egyptian Center for Human Rights (ECHR) condemned on Monday continuing sectarian crime in the country, and demanded the enforcement of the churches building law to make all perpetrators accountable of recent crimes, according to the ECHR statement. The statement explained that the burning of houses and assault on Copts continues due to the absence of a law which regulates such incidents. Last week in Minya, violent clashes broke out between Muslims and Christians in the village of Koum Al-Loufy, after a resident circulated a rumour that a new church would be built in the village. ECHR stated that the Egyptian government is not seriously confronting such issues due to the postponement of the bill of regulating building churches, which could help improve the situation. It further added that despite witnessing two revolutions, the country is still unable to understand all of society's needs, referring again to the importance of enforcing the mentioned. ECHR demanded the government send the bill to parliament as soon as possible, noting that the government has wasted a lot of time preparing the bill, despite continuing sectarian conflicts. ECHR called for accountability of all perpetrators of violent crimes against Christians, especially for the suspects who assaulted a 70-year-old women and dragged her through the street in May. This incident happened when dozens of Muslims looted and torched houses that belonged to Copts. The woman was beaten and had her clothes ripped off. Previously in May, Archbishop Makarius in Minya told Daily News Egypt that reconciliation sessions are meaningless in solving these conflicts, and urged that the matter should first be addressed through the application of the law.
