Bid to convert house into church sparks violence
Hundreds of Egyptian Muslims tried yesterday to set on fire the home of a Coptic Christian in southern Egypt after he announced plans to turn it into a church, a security official said.
Residents of the village of Hawasliya, near the town of Minya, had complained to the authorities arguing that the Copt did not have the proper permit, the official added. Yesterday, around 500 Muslims gathered near the house to try to set it ablaze but the police prevented it. The protesters managed nevertheless to set fire to nearby stables owned by Christians, killing six animals. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds and detained 20 protesters, the official said.