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.



Church bids farewell to victims of terrorism
Frustrated people take it out on press and media, say journalists
Published in Daily News Egypt on 10 - 04 - 2017

A long night of funerals took place at Mar Girgis Church in Tanta, as more than 27 victims of the terrorist attack which left at least 70 others injured on Palm Sunday were mourned.
A second attack on St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, where Pope Tawadros II was giving a sermon, saw the police preventing the entry of a suicide bomber who eventually detonated himself right outside the church. At least 16 were killed and more than 40 injured, including seven police officers securing the church's entrance.
"We bid farewell to our martyrs, welcomed by Jesus on a holy day. The pain of separation overwhelms us, but Jesus' arms console us," Pope Tawadros II stated on Sunday.
Initial reports suggested that the two attacks were conducted by suicide bombers. Videos captured by the security cameras of the cathedral in Alexandria showed a man detonating himself as policemen stopped him from crossing through the electronic gate.
The attacks have raised concerns regarding the performance of the security forces, namely the Ministry of Interior, as these were not the first attacks on churches during holy celebrations.
Minister of Interior Magdy Abdel Ghaffar indeed replaced the Gharbeya security chief. In these attacks, like the previous ones, security experts argued that securing churches by the police is usually done from outside the churches and that church affiliated security personnel are in charge of searching people, in order to avoid any sensitive reactions.
"Security personnel of the church are usually familiar with members of the Coptic community regularly visiting the church; if they know me they will be embarrassed to ask me for identity documents," explained Emad Soliman, an eye witness to the attack in Tanta, who said he was right outside the church when the explosion occurred.
On Monday, Soliman said to Daily News Egypt that he was frustrated and partly blamed security measures at churches. "We know that there is not enough care with security measures, that most electronic gates don't work, and that some are not seriously performing their duties. Nobody is helping the president or working for the sake of this country," he said.
While accusing the police of severe negligence in the Tanta attack, Soliman also accused the press and media of incitement to violence and exploitation of people's pains.
Soliman was not the only one in Tanta taking an aggressive tone against the press and media, but also according to journalists on the ground Sunday, most people inside and near the church were clearly sending a message to reporters that they were not "welcome" there.
Daily News Egypt's photojournalist on the ground said she could hardly get inside the church. She reported that journalists were assaulted by civilians, and security forces did not interfere.
Moreover, journalist Solafa Magdy told Daily News Egypt on Monday that she has "never witnessed such hostility from victims and their families" in Egypt, who were highly irritated on Sunday.
"They put the blame of the attack on reporters or even claimed that we were happy about their misfortune," said Magdy, who was at the scene shortly after the explosion. She said that she was only able to work according to temporary permissions by the people, or sneak a few shots while no one paid attention. Magdy also asserted security did not interfere to stop assaults on journalists.
Asked about the possible reasons, Magdy said she believes the press and media have a responsibility towards people's lack of trust in them, because several outlets have been controlled by the state and failed to represent Copts and other minorities; on the contrary making use of such important incidents to beautify the image of the ruling regime.
In his speech after the attacks, Al-Sisi also blamed the media, saying that the scenes and images of the attacks were repeatedly broadcast in the media without taking into consideration people's feelings. "It was enough to report it once," Al-Sisi said.
Also regarding the media, Al-Sisi said that there should be new regulations enforced by the upcoming National Council he formed to combat terrorism, among urgent measures he undertook with members of the National Defence Council, along with a state of emergency.


Clic here to read the story from its source.