Nayer Mansour Sahrab, a Muslim minibus driver, stabbed four Christian Copts on Sunday, September 27, in the village of Delga, killing one and seriously injuring the other three.

The incident led thousands of angry Copts to rally and demand an end to the government's policy of indifference in dealing with Coptic issues. State Security forces have cordoned the village and are still heavily present near the church.

When a Coptic family desired to board a minibus other than the one owned by Sahrab an argument ensued. Sahrab was apparently offended that his services were declined. The Copts were beaten by Sahrab, his brother and other Muslims. Sahrab stabbed Hanna Amir Rezqin his back and abdomen several times with a knife, as well as his brothers Maurice and Amin and his nephew Ashraf Maher Amir, who was stabbed several times in the head. Sahrab fled after committing the crime, but was later arrested.

The killing caused thousands of Copts to rally in front of Deir Mawas Hospital, where Hanna Amir Rezq was taken together with the other three wounded Copts. Hanna died shortly after his arrival. According Mariam Ragy, correspondent for the Middle East Christian Association (MECA), State security prevented Copts from going into the hospital to check on the status of the injured and dispersed them by force. Angry Copts also rallied in the village of Delga holding banners demanding a stop to Coptic persecution, she said.

Reverend Abram, pastor of the village Saint Abram Church told the Egyptian Daily Masry el Youm that this is not just a fight between a Muslim and a Christian, Copts are targeted and this is the second incident within one month that a Copt is killed during a fight with a Muslim. The first Coptic victim was murdered after an argument over planting some palm trees, and the second victim today was murdered over boarding a minibus.

His Grace Aghapius, Bishop the Holy Diocese of Deir Mawas and Delga said that Copts were also assaulted after the burial, with Muslims smashing Coptic-owned cars, as well as attacking streets that are inhabited entirely by Copts, including El-Hamr Street, prompting Coptic inhabitants to remain inside their homes. How could all this happen in the presence of seven State Security cars in the village, adjacent to the church? he asks. I am still waiting for State Security to carry out their promises of solving our problems.

It was Christmas Day according to Egypt's Coptic Calendar, but instead of celebrating, the country's Christian population spent the day mourning seven people killed in a drive-by shooting as they left midnight mass.

Thousands of Copts clashed with police in the southern town of Nag Hamad. They pelted cars with stones and smashed ambulances after gathering for the funeral of six Christians and a Muslim policemen shot dead outside a church.

Witnesses said three men sprayed automatic gunfire into a crowd leaving the midnight service.

Bishop Kiroloss said he decided to end the Christmas service at St John's Church an hour earlier than normal because of threats against Christians. He said many of his faithful had been abused in the street and that he had received a text message warning him that, It is your turn.

Six Christians and a security guard were killed. Nine Copts were injured, two of them seriously.

About 5,000 people attended the funeral. Some began attacking ambulances in frustration at delays in turning over the bodies for burial. The demonstrators chanted: With our spirit and blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for the cross. Protesters also smashed the windows of two shops owned by Muslims before police, using teargas, herded the crowd into the church grounds.

More than 100 Coptic Christian teens have been arrested by security forces in Egypt in what the Christian community considers as pressure from the government to play down the recent fatal church shooting that made international headlines.

Since late last week, Egyptian State Security members have knocked on the doors of Coptic Christian families mostly around dawn and arrested Christian youths, according to Assyrian International News Agency. To date, according to local sources, the number of Coptic youths rounded up without warrants has surpassed 100 people and is growing.

The Coptic community has long complained that State Security has used various tactics, including arrests, to force Christian victims to reconcile with their perpetrators. The reconciliation process, say Copts, is nothing more than a front for forcing the victims to forfeit their rights to press criminal charges.

Because of international attention given to the church shooting in Nag Hammadi, which killed six people, the government has placed heavy pressure on the church and Copts to accept reconciliation, say Coptic rights groups.

Melbourne protest supporting Egyptian copts

Based on article from theage.com.au

Melbourne's Coptic Orthodox Christians took to the streets in protest at violence against them in Egypt..

Deacons in white robes and carrying staffs with bronze crosses led the march, followed by protesters bearing six black coffins. Behind them were priests and the head of the church in Melbourne, Bishop Suriel.

Bloodshed is Not What I Wanted for Christmas read placards, referring to the drive-by shooting of six Coptics in southern Egypt on January 7 as they left church after celebrating Coptic Christmas Eve.

Other placards said Thousands slaughtered. No Convictions, Egyptian Government Take A Stance and Enough, referring to other deaths including 21 Coptics killed at El-Kosheh when muslims extremists went on a 2000 New Year's weekend rampage, looting and destroying 260 homes.

They were also highlighting their claim that the Egyptian Government has failed to prevent sectarian attacks by Muslim extremists.

Organisers put the march numbers at 6000. At one stage it stretched for 2.5 blocks.

Update: US protests supporting Egyptian copts

Based on article from christianpost.com

Since the deadly Christmas Eve shootings in the Egyptian town of Nagaa Hammadi, demonstrations have been held in cities across the world and more are on their way. Related

Hundreds of Coptic Christians took to the streets of Tampa, Florida, to protest what they described as 1,400 years of persecution of Copts in Egypt.

We're raising our voices for those in authority to stop what is happening in Egypt to Christians, said the Rev. Moussa Saleh, leader of Tampa's St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, according to Tampa Bay Online.

One day earlier, Copts in northern Texas rallied in front of the Federal Building in Dallas to draw the attention of the world to the sufferings of Christians in Egypt and to call upon Muslim extremists to end the violence against their brethren in hopes that Copts in Egypt can enjoy the right to religious freedom.

They are also hoping that the Egyptian government will take serious steps to deal fairly with all the issues and matters of this crime and other religious freedom subjects, according to rally organizers.

An Egyptian court in the southern city of Assuit has acquitted four Muslims accused of killing 61-year-old Farouk Attallah on October 19, 2009.

This has been reported by Mary Abdelmassih in a story for the Assyrian International News Agency who said, In broad daylight and in full view of witnesses, the killers fired 31 bullets to his head before beheading him, in the busy village market place of Attaleen. The dead body was then dragged in the street, accompanied by shouts of victory.

The judge presiding over the court on February 22, said that he was not satisfied that the testimony of the witnesses established that the imprisoned men were the killers. After the acquittal of Mohamad, Ashraf, Osama and Ahmad Hassouna, there was jubilation in the court room, with shouts of 'Allah is Great' and congratulations from all Muslims, including members of the state security forces who were present.

She said that Christians were enraged over the acquittal, since similar cases would result in life imprisonment or execution for a Copt if the victim was a Muslim and came as another wake-up call to many Copts in Egypt.

According to Peter Sarwar, the plaintiff's attorney who told Mariam Ragy of Katiba Tibia Coptic site, It sends a clear message that Coptic blood is extremely cheap. This acquittal will make permanent the present culture of impunity enjoyed by Muslim aggressors against Copts.

Sarwat asserted that he will appeal the ruling. We cannot remain silent over this verdict as it has very serious implications for all Copts in Egypt. He added: It is not safe for Copts now, as any Muslims who wants to get rid of a Copt, would kill him, knowing well that in the end he will be acquitted.