Missionary writes from Cairo
More than 30 Christians were killed in Cairo yesterday, when police attacked a peaceful demonstration outside the Town Hall. The group had come to ask for more protection from the authorities, after a wave of attacks on Christians.
Father Luciano Verdoscia, a Comboni missionary who lives a few hundred meters from the epicenter of last night's violence, writes: "Mistrust and resentment have grown in recent years, and it is a situation that should be addressed".
During the evening news, Egyptian television showed images of the military vehicle that drove into the crowd of protesters, precipitating the situation. "The most serious clashes - said Father Verdoscia - took place on the riverfront, near the headquarters of state television and about 500 meters from the Egyptian Museum."
As for the dynamics of the incident, there is much that is still not clear, but what is of great concern are the possible repercussions of the violence on the "transition" managed by the military through the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. In late November, a first round of legislative elections is scheduled, a process that should lead to the establishment, next year, of a constituent assembly and the drafting of a new Fundamental Law.
According to Father Verdoscia, it is difficult to understand if and what will change as a result of last night's confrontations. Certainly the Copts, a minority that makes up about 10% of the 80 million Egyptians, often feel that they are the victims of injustice. "Christians sometimes exaggerate - says the missionary - but discrimination does exist, and now they are also concerned by statements from extremist groups seeking the introduction of sharia, or Islamic law."
Funeral processions will take place today at the Coptic cathedral in Abbassia for the victims of the violence in Cairo.
The BBC reports that there were 10 army vehicles outside the cathedral, which have now left. The report says: "It's not clear whether they were there to keep the peace but their presence could be interpreted as a provocative gesture given the footage of army vehicles ploughing through crowds last night. Taha also says 38 coffins are being prepared for funerals at the cathedral (reports so far have put the death toll from last night at a minimum of 24)."
Several members of a committee set up by the Egyptian prime minister, Essam Sharaf, to deal with sectarian tensions have resigned or suspended membership in protest at the events in Cairo, according to CNN's Ben Wedeman.
Members of the Egyptian security forces stormed the headquarters of al-Hurra TV during the violence in Cairo - which the TV station was broadcasting - and forced it to go off the air.
Source: MISNA/BBC/CNN