Egypt: Calls for greater protection for churches in wake of jihadi threats

Human rights campaigners have asked the Egyptian government to provide more protection to churches and monasteries, after the ancient Coptic Orthodox Monastery of al Baramos, dedicated to the Virgin Mary received on-line threats from jihadist militants. The threats were accompanied by information about the location and structure of the monastery, which has already been given considerable protection measures by the Egyptian police.

Following this latest threat, Yussif Malak, a lawyer and director of the Egyptian Centre for Human Rights, called for measures to ensure exceptional protection for churches and Coptic monasteries.

Malak said that similar threats were common even before the terrorist attack carried out on New Year's Eve 2011 at the Coptic Church of the Saints in Alexandria, Egypt, in which 23 people were killed and hundreds injured.

Nader Shoukry, a spokesman for the 'Copts for Egypt' Association, called on the Interior Ministry and the Egyptian security apparatuses to seriously take the threats released via the internet against Coptic targets.

Al Baramos is one of four historic Coptic monasteries which were severely damaged in early November by the floods caused by heavy rainfalls in the Wadi Natrun region. The monastery was founded in 335AD by Saint Macarius the Great.

Source: Fides/ICN