Egypt, on multiple occasions organized groups attacked churches and Christian-owned homes and businesses and then looted and torched the properties. Islamist-led mobs carried out acts of violence, intimidation, compelled expulsions, and punishment against Christians, especially in Upper Egypt. Attacks on Christians spiked August 14 -17 when, according to NGO reports, assailants attacked at least 42 churches in various governorates, in addition to schools, orphanages, and other Christian-affiliated facilities. The violence resulted in the looting and destruction of at least 37 churches and the deaths of at least six Christians who were targeted because of their religious identity. On June 23, a mob of thousands of angry villagers led by Salafist sheikhs killed four Shia citizens, including a prominent cleric, in a village near Cairo. The lynching followed months of government and official Islamic anti-Shia rhetoric and was immediately preceded by incendiary speech at a mosque. In June then-President Morsy attended a televised conference at which a Salafist sheikh described Shia as “non-believers who must be killed,” according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
In Egypt, the President condemned sectarian violence, including attacks on churches. Secretary of State Kerry has also emphasized the importance of ensuring freedom of religion for all Egyptians, regardless of their faith, with equal rights and protections under the law.
In Egypt, our programs are developing Arabic-language and English-language educational materials that encourage diversity and understanding of others.
Study to European Parliament concerning Human Rights of Minorities and Focus on Copts
"Yet Copts do not reject the engagement of the EU with Coptic concerns when they are framed as part of broader Egyptian concerns. According to Ibrahim Habib, president of United Copts of Great Britain, when asked what the EU could or should do to safeguard Coptic rights his answer did not include any request for supporting Copts as a specific group. Instead he called on the EU to actively support democratic values and the promotion of literacy and educational programmes, gender equality and a secular state. He also called for the Muslim Brotherhood to be declared a terrorist organisation.52"
Egypt’s religious minorities bear the brunt of renewed insecurity, new report
9 December 2013
Egypt’s January 25 Revolution was driven by a demand for greater liberty, but insecurity and sectarian violence since then has increased, and the country’s religious minorities are bearing the brunt, says an international rights organisation in a new report.
Minority Rights Group International’s (MRG) report, No Change in Sight: The situation of religious minorities in post-Mubarak Egypt, highlights the role of government policy, restrictive legislation, police inaction, irresponsible media coverage and the rise of religious hate speech, in encouraging division and instability in the country since the 2011 revolution.
That this House takes note of Her Majesty’s Government’s policy towards countries responsible for violations of human rights.
21 Nov 2013 : Column 1071
Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB): My Lords, in just under three weeks’ time, we will mark the 65th anniversary of the adoption of a declaration which asserted that,
“disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want”.
It is as much a declaration of human dignity as a declaration of human rights. I hope that those words and the declaration’s 30 articles will serve as the architecture for today’s debate. These rights are universal and not available for selective enforcement according to culture, tradition or convenience.
A Guide by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Paper
Violence Against Copts in Egypt
Jason Brownlee
Paper
The Egyptian Orthodox Christian community—the Copts—has been the target of violence and discrimination since the 1970s and especially following the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian state has done little to remedy the situation and has at times enabled the conflict between Muslims and Christians. Achieving religious freedom and equality depends on building state institutions that can guarantee all citizens’ constitutional rights.
20/10/2013 the recent terror attack by gunmen opened fire on the Church of the Virgin in Cairo Al-Warrak Area, 18 got seriously injured and 5 got killed including Children and Women
Egypt failing to stop 'deeply disturbing' attacks on Coptic Christians
‘Failure to bring to justice those responsible for sectarian attacks sends the message that Copts and other religious minorities are fair game’ - Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui
The authorities in Egypt are failing to prevent “deeply disturbing” attacks on the country’s Coptic Christian minority, said Amnesty International today in a new report (9 October), and the organisation is calling for an investigation into a series of deadly sectarian incidents. Read the report
Egypt: Evidence points to torture carried out by Morsi supporters
Evidence, including testimonies from survivors, indicates that supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi tortured individuals from a rival political camp, said Amnesty International.
Anti-Morsi protesters told Amnesty International how they were captured, beaten, subjected to electric shocks or stabbed by individuals loyal to the former President. Since mass rival rallies began in late June, as of 28 July, eight bodies have arrived at the morgue in Cairo bearing signs of torture. At least five of these were found near areas where pro-Morsi sit-ins were being held.
“Allegations that torture is being carried out by individuals are extremely serious and must be investigated as a matter of urgency,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
“The apparent use of torture for reprisal attacks is unacceptable. People should not take the law into their own hands. Political leaders have a responsibility to condemn these criminal acts and call on their supporters to renounce such human rights abuses. The Egyptian government must not, however, use these crimes, carried out by few, as a pretext to collectively punish all pro-Morsi supporters or use excessive force to disperse their sit-ins.”
Allegations that torture is being carried out by individuals are extremely serious and must be investigated as a matter of urgency.
Source:
Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
Evidence, including testimonies from survivors, indicates that supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi tortured individuals from a rival political camp, said Amnesty International.
Egypt: Security forces abandon Coptic Christians during deadly attack in Luxor
On 5 July 2013, four Coptic Christian men were killed by local residents in the Nagah Hassan district of Dab’iya village, some 18 kilometres west of Luxor.
“
It is outrageous that this attack was left to escalate unhindered in this way. Amnesty International has documented a series of cases in the past where Egypt’s security forces used unnecessary force or live fire during demonstrations, yet in this case they held back even though people’s lives were threatened
”
Source:
Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme
Scant Protection As Christians Attacked in Several Cities
A protester holds a cross and a Koran during a protest against ousted President Mohamed Morsy at Tahrir Square in Cairo on
(New York) – Egyptian Christians have been targeted in several attacks since the military’s ouster of former President Mohamed Morsy. The authorities should urgently investigate the attacks, hold the perpetrators to account, and determine whether the police could have prevented or stopped the violence.
Vice President Ashton response to escalating situation in Egypt
Answer to Parliamentary questions 22 April 2013 E-004467-13
Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 117 Roger Helmer (EFD)
Is the Commission aware of the escalating situation in Egypt as regards religious persecution? This is on the increase and becoming more vicious, as demonstrated by recent clashes in which six Coptic Christians and one Muslim are estimated to have died.
Does the Commission propose to take any action to help re-establish the peaceful co-existence of different religious groups in the area?
Answer given by High Representative/Vice President Ashtonon behalf of the Commission(20.6.2013)
The Commission is aware of the escalating situation in Egypt concerning religious minorities, as the recent clashes in which six Copts and one Muslim died. The HR/VP issued a statement on 7 April while travelling to the region, urging for restraint and for the security forces to control the situation. The EU Delegation closely monitors the situation and its follow-up.
In Egypt, the government generally failed to prevent, investigate, or prosecute crimes against members of religious minorities, including Coptic Christians, which fostered a climate of impunity. In some cases, authorities reacted slowly or with insufficient resolve when mobs attacked Christians and their property
In Egypt, anti-Semitic sentiment in the media was widespread and sometimes included Holocaust denial or glorification. On October 19, President Morsy said “Amen” during televised prayers in Mansour after an imam stated, “Oh Allah ... grant us victory over the infidels. Oh Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters.” This is a common prayer in Egyptian mosques and came in a litany of other prayers. Also in October, Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badei made several anti-Semitic statements, including saying in a sermon that was also published online that “It is time for the Muslim [nation] to unite for the sake of Jerusalem and Palestine after the Jews have increased the corruption in the world….” He added that “Zionists only know the way of force.”
In Egypt, sectarian violence continued, with little accountability for the perpetrators. Bahais, Shias, and other minorities faced personal and collective discrimination.
مصر جمهورية مصر العربيةرئيس الدولة: محمد مرسي (حل محل محمد حسين طنطاوي، في يونيو/حزيران)
رئيس الحكومة: هشام قنديل (حل محل كمال الجنزوري، في أغسطس/آب)
أسفرت الاحتجاجات على حكم المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة عن مقتل ما لا يقل عن 28 شخصاً على أيدي قوات الأمن في القاهرة والسويس. واستخدمت قوات الأمن المركزي وقوات الجيش القوة المفرطة لتفريق المتظاهرين، وادعى متظاهرون فيما بعد أنهم تعرضوا للتعذيب أو غيره من صنوف المعاملة السيئة أثناء احتجازهم.
وفي نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني وديسمبر/كانون الأول، اندلعت مظاهرات معارضة للرئيس وأخرى مؤيدة لها، وجنح بعضها للعنف.
واستمرت المحاكمات الجائرة أمام محكمة أمن الدولة العليا طوارئ، وظلت قوات الأمن تتصرف باعتبارها فوق القانون. وحُكم على الرئيس السابق حسني مبارك ووزير داخليته السابق بالسجن المؤبد لإدانتهم بتهم تتعلق بقتل متظاهرين أثناء انتفاضة عام 2011، بينما بُرئ كثيرون آخرون ممن يُشتبه أنهم ارتكبوا أعمال القتل.
ولم يُحاسب أي من أعضاء المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة عن الانتهاكات التي ارتُكبت خلال حكم المجلس. وشكَّل الرئيس محمد مرسي لجنة لتقصي الحقائق في الانتهاكات التي وقعت خلال الفترة من يناير/كانون الثاني 2011 إلى يونيو/حزيران 2012، وأصدر قرارات عفو عن بعض المدنيين الذين حُوكموا أمام محاكم عسكرية وعفواً عاماً عن الجرائم التي ارتكبها متظاهرون خلال المظاهرات ضد حكم المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة. واستمر التمييز ضد الأقليات الدينية. وحُوكم بعض الصحفيين والنشطاء بتهمتي «إهانة الرئيس» وازدراء الأديان.
وظلت المرأة تعاني من التمييز في القانون وفي الواقع الفعلي، فضلاً عن التحرش الجنسي الواسع النطاق. وظلت آلاف العائلات تعيش في أحياء عشوائية في «مناطق غير آمنة»، بينما كانت آلاف العائلات الأخرى عرضة لخطر الإخلاء القسري. وذكرت الأنباء أن بعض المهاجرين قُتلوا على أيدي قوات الأمن وهم يحاولون عبور الحدود إلى إسرائيل، وكان آخرون ضحية للاستغلال على أيدي المهربين في شبه جزيرة سيناء. وصدرت أحكام بالإعدام ضد ما لا يقل عن 91 شخصاً، ولم يُعرف ما إذا كانت قد نُفذت أية إعدامات.
.jpg "Anti-Morsi protesters told Amnesty International of abuses they suffered at the hands of his supporters.")
