AN estimated 130 Christians in Egypt still remain in prison after police attacked a church under construction a few days ago, Christian Aid Mission reported.
Though police had released 70 Christian prisoners who were in need of medical treatment, several others still remain imprisoned, the Christian missionary agency said.
The ministry is calling for prayers for the safety of the Egyptian Christians and for financial aid to cover medical expenses of families who suffered from the attack.
Christian Aid Mission’s Africa director Rae Burnett said the injured believers were expected to cover their own medical bills and pay for the rebuilding of their homes and businesses destroyed during the Nov 24 attack. Families who lost members in the attack have the additional expense of burying the dead.
On Nov 24, security forces clashed with hundreds of Christians after they halted construction work on a church. Five persons died and dozens were injured including 20 people who were blinded in at least one eye a result of violence that ensued in Cairo’s Giza district, according to Christian Aid Missions. More than 25 homes in the surrounding Christian neighborhood were also burned.
Last month, Giza Governor Gen. Sayyed Abdel Aziz told the media that the builders did not have a permit to turn a Christian community center into a church which would require a different license.
