21 killed in Coptic Christian church bomb blast New Year's Eve in Egypt

[Lars]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12101748

[Ought Six]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...ch-attack.html

Angry Coptic Xns protested and clashed with police (article says "dozens") and threw rocks before riot police waded in and broke up the protest with nightsticks. Apparently the suicide bombing attack occurred in the wake of threats to perpetrate just such an attack by al Qaeda in Iraq. aQiI claimed that 'two Xn women who converted to Islam were being held by the church', and gave this as the rationale for the attack.

[Ought Six]

Egypt on Alert Ahead of Coptic Christmas


Voice of America News
03 January 2011

Coptic Christians are on high alert as they prepare this week for their Christmas holiday, following the deadly bombing at an Egyptian church on New Year's Day.

Egyptian authorities have increased security at Coptic churches ahead of the January 7 holiday when Copts celebrate Christmas. Officials say they have canceled police officers' leave and have tightened security at the country's ports and airports to prevent suspects from leaving Egypt.

Egyptian security officials have said local militants inspired by al-Qaida may have been responsible for the attack. They said they are investigating a group of radical Salafi Sunni Muslims based in Alexandria and have detained several people for questioning.

Meanwhile, authorities in France and Germany say they are investigating threats made by radical Islamists against Coptic Christians in their countries as well.

On Sunday, hundreds of Egypt's minority Christians held protests in the capital, Cairo, venting their anger at authorities for failing to protect them.

Protesters pelted a government minister's car and clashed with police outside Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral. Protests also were held in the northern city of Alexandria, where an apparent suicide bombing at a Coptic church killed 21 worshippers and wounded scores of others on Saturday.

Pope Benedict on Sunday repeated his condemnation of the bombing, calling it an offense against "God and all of humanity."

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has condemned the bombing, saying it was directed at "all Egyptians, not just Christians."

Mubarak said the bombing was the work of "foreign hands," and he vowed to defeat those plotting against Egypt's security.

Al-Qaida's affiliate in Iraq has claimed responsibility for recent bombings against Christians in Iraq and has made threats against Egyptian Christians. The group linked the violence to the case of two Egyptian women who it alleges are being held against their will by Christians for trying to convert to Islam.
_____

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

[Ought Six]

http://www.investigativeproject.org/...church-bombing

Islamists claim the Mossad is behind the suicide bombing.

"Evil Juuuuuuuuuice!"

[Auburn Boy]

It all boils down to one, and only one certainty..,

Religion is the root of all evil.

Of course, one has to believe in evil. At the very least, religion is the root of a lot of insanity..,

[ob1]

Originally Posted by Auburn Boy

It all boils down to one, and only one certainty..,

Religion is the root of all evil.

Of course, one has to believe in evil. At the very least, religion is the root of a lot of insanity..,

These people aren't religious.They use religion to prop up and attempt to conceal their misguided hate and bigotry.The world is slowly turning in to one big "hood" full of mindless turf wars.Take away religion and behavior would continue unabated.Call it traditional,cultural,or whatever based hate. But hate just the same.

[Lars]

Originally Posted by ob1

These people aren't religious.They use religion to prop up and attempt to conceal their misguided hate and bigotry.The world is slowly turning in to one big "hood" full of mindless turf wars.Take away religion and behavior would continue unabated.Call it traditional,cultural,or whatever based hate. But hate just the same.

ditto

[Potemkin]

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsCont...Coptic-Ch.aspx

Egypt Muslims to act as "human shields" at Coptic Christmas Eve mass
Coptic Churches around the country expect an influx of Egyptian Muslims to share with the country's Christians their Christmas Eve mass

[Ought Six]

That is a very, very encouraging development. It is about time 'mainstream Muslims' in nations like Egypt took a stand against the Jihadis. This takes real courage. They certainly have my respect.

[Dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by Ought Six

That is a very, very encouraging development. It is about time 'mainstream Muslims' in nations like Egypt took a stand against the Jihadis. This takes real courage. They certainly have my respect.

Hmmm! One step forward, two steps back.

Pakistani Lawyers Salute Taseer’s Killer
http://arabnews.com/world/article229955.ece

and then we have

Five hundred Pakistani religious scholars who warned Muslims not to grieve over the dead blasphemer, or risk sharing his fate. These reputable scholars belong to a group called Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, which is commonly described as “moderate”. Their moderation tells them that Salman Taseer got what was coming to him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-scholars.html

[Mayerling]

Originally Posted by Ought Six

That is a very, very encouraging development. It is about time 'mainstream Muslims' in nations like Egypt took a stand against the Jihadis. This takes real courage. They certainly have my respect.

facebook of muslim and christian activists very busy since this horror occurred.

The crescent and the cross superimposed on one another is now a popular avator here in egypt. It was last used when Egyptians- Muslims and Christians marched together in opposition to British rule.

People here are extremely upset and outraged.

[Potemkin]

Originally Posted by Potemkin

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsCont...Coptic-Ch.aspx

Egypt Muslims to act as "human shields" at Coptic Christmas Eve mass
Coptic Churches around the country expect an influx of Egyptian Muslims to share with the country's Christians their Christmas Eve mass

They did.

The two sons of President Hosni Mubarak attended a service.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/3365.aspx

[Mayerling]

Originally Posted by Potemkin

They did.

The two sons of President Hosni Mubarak attended a service.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/3365.aspx

President Mubarak, his sons, various Ambs- including the US- and many ministers always attend Christmas and Easter services. This is not new.

[Ought Six]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ristians-egypt

The Egyptian government is furious and has recalled its ambassador to the Vatican because the Pope called for the Middle East to protect Xns. Sound to me like they are getting butthurt over nothing.

[Ought Six]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...736189303.html

The Pope issued his plea after a second attack on Xns. An off-duty Egyptian policeman walked onto a train, pulled out his gun and shot a 71 year old man, and wounded five others. They were all Coptic Xns. The policeman ran from the scene, but was later arrested.

[Mayerling]

Originally Posted by Ought Six

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ristians-egypt

The Egyptian government is furious and has recalled its ambassador to the Vatican because the Pope called for the Middle East to protect Xns. Sound to me like they are getting butthurt over nothing.

I happen to know the Amb to the Vatican and will try to find out what the " consultations" are all about. ironic, because I told her husband- upon congratulating him about his wife's appt, that this was a very sensitive post considering the Pope's comments about Islam. My impression of his reaction to this was that this post was pretty lo profile. Right. Incidentally, the Amb was previously the main political advisor to Mrs Mubarak. She had to step down when she married as her husband is a very vocal member of the a major opposition party here. A non islamic one I should add.