Life has returned to normal on the streets of Cairo's poverty-stricken Imbaba neighborhood after sectarian clashes led to the death of 15 people two weeks ago. The cause of the sectarian strife was a woman named Abeer, who claimed she had been confined to the church after converting to Islam. Security forces have cleared Luxor and el-Wahda streets, where the Church of the Virgin Mary lies. The church was set on fire by thugs. Pathways were finally opened to pedestrians and cars after been closed for more than 10 days. A small number of army and police vehicles remain in the area, but the security cordon surrounding the area has been lifted. Youm7 went to Imbaba to see how the sectarian tensions have affected the residents. The Arab Contactors company working to renovate the Church of the Virgin Mary said work would take around 16 days. Shops have begun to open and life is slowly returning to normalcy. center\ Youm7 spoke with Remoun Shawky, who owns a clothing shop in front of a church. Shawky expressed his relief that the security cordon had been lifted, especially as recent events had rendered him incapable of paying the shop's rent or the salaries of his employees. Ayman Abd el Rahman, owner of a Koshari restaurant also near the church, said life was returning to normal. Other residents say the arsonists responsible for burning the church were strangers to the area and they reject attempts to cause problems between Copts and Muslims. By Mar Mina Church, the situation is a little different. Residents still seem distressed, police presence is still high and many shops remain closed. Owners of shops that were burned or damaged expressed their dismay over the loss of their livelihood. Ashraf Rateb, whose shop was destroyed during the violence, says he went to get the compensation promised by the Giza Governorate. The employee there told him to go to the Minirty of Social Solitarity, who told him compensation was paid out only to the relatives of the martyrs and those injured in the attacks. Rateb, almong with either other shop owners, are left with little recourse but to condemn their bad luck. center\
