Egypt puts 48 on trial for church burning

1948
St Mary Church in Cairo

St Mary Church in CairoEGYPT’S public prosecutor has referred 48 people for trial at the criminal court for being involved in the deadly sectarian violence that led to the burning of a church in the Cairo district of Imbaba last month.

Christian Post reported that the accused have been referred to Cairo’s Supreme State Security Court Saturday, for “premeditated murder, harming public security, inciting sectarian tension, burning a church and possessing weapons with the purpose of carrying out terror (acts).”

The deadly incident occurred on May 7, when clashes occurred between Christians and Muslims in Imbaba, a working-class district of Cairo. The fighting saw 12 people killed and dozens more injured, as well as a church set on fire, Post reported.

The clashes, according to news reports, were allegedly sparked by rumors among the Islamic community that Christians had abducted a woman, Abeer Fakhry, whom they claim had converted to Islam.

The prosecutor’s office spokesman, Adel Said, explained that prior to the clashes, a group of Muslims had gathered outside a mosque in Imbaba to incite others to search buildings near a church to find the woman.

However, Christians in the neighborhood, seeing that the Muslim group was approaching the church, feared an attack was about to take place. It is alleged that some formed groups to try and protect the church. In the ensuing clash firearms were reportedly used on both sides.

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