Copts and Egyptian
security forces clashed on Sunday outside the Saints Mary and Michael
Church in Talbiya, near the Pyramids, Giza.
Police want to stop the
church construction, which is in its final stage.
This is the second
time in ten days that security forces try to enter the religious
compound, which is under 24-7 protection by priests and worshippers.
The
siege began at midnight, and lasted six hours.
As of 9 pm, the church
was full of worshippers praying, aware that security would try to move
in.
Security forces surrounded the church compound and
seized four concrete mixing vehicles on their way to the site. The
concrete was spoiled.
At the same time, some 2,000 Copts joined those
already in the church.
Demonstrations and sit-ins took place in front of
police.
Christian religious authorities said that the church would continue to be protected until the matter is not settled.
Naguib Ghobrial, president of the Egyptian Union of
Human Rights, issued a statement calling for the dismissal of the head
of the local government in Omraniya who ordered the security forces in.
“The Church has all the permits,” he said. “By this
behaviour, the chief of the local authority is encouraging Islamists to
fight with Christians because of the Church. This encourages sedition.”
Protestors are adamant that they have all necessary
construction permits.
They slam the decision of the head of the local
government in Omraniya to stop work on the church, which is nearly
complete except for the domes.
Samira Ibrahim Shehata, a volunteer worker at the
church, who has been on guard at the Church premises since 11 November,
said, "I want to know why a hundred mosques can be built, and not one
church”.
About a million Copts live in the Talbiya area, but
they have no church.
Worshippers who want to attend religious services
must travel back and forth for several kilometres.
SIC: AN/INT'L