CAIRO: Egyptian government officials told a group Coptic Christians concerned about rising sectarianism in Egypt from Egypt and abroad that foreign powers were behind the violence at a meeting Tuesday. The Coptic delegation, made up of Egyptians living in Egypt and abroad, met with Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, Minister of Justice Mohamed el-Gendy, and the head of the Justice Committee, Saif Abdel Fatah. Magdi Isaac, one of the delegation, said Egypt's image abroad is very bad and Egyptian expats are depressed about the Maspiro clashes. He said the clashes resulted from reoccurring and strengthening sectarian violence that had not been dealt with. Sharaf said foreign powers were behind sectarian violence in Egypt because these powers know that Egypt is vulnerable to it. Gendy said investigations proved foreign countries were involved in inciting Egyptians to trigger the Maspiro violence. He added the investigations would be referred to judiciary bodies to take the required measures. The Egyptian government passed the Anti-Discrimination Law and will pass the Places of Worship Law. Gendy said the two laws do not contradict each other. "We hear a lot about the laws and investigations, but where is the political decision?” asked Samya Sedhom, a member of the Coptic delegation. “For example, why has the Egyptian Minister of Information not been ousted?" Sharaf responded that investigations are being conducted and steps to replace the Ministry of Information with a High Press Council and a High Council for Radio and Television. Abdel Fatah noted that Egypt had foiled four attempts at sectarian violence that had not been announced yet. The delegation also called to investigate the incidents of the New Year bombing at the Two Saints Church in Alexandria, citing neglect for this case by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the government.
