A large-scale clash between Muslims and Christians in a village 18 miles south of Cairo on March 5 has resulted in at least two deaths and a burnt church.
According to Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), violence erupted when it was discovered that a Coptic Christian man and a Muslim woman in the village of Soul were in a romantic relationship. The father of the Muslim woman was killed Friday by his cousin because he did not kill his daughter to maintain the family’s honor.
News reports said the woman’s brother then killed his father’s cousin in revenge and then on Saturday a Muslim mob attacked St. Mina and St. George church and torched it.
At least two persons were killed and the church was set on fire during the clash, a security official confirmed with MENA news agency on March 5.
The Egyptian army, which has been maintaining security after President Hosni Mubarak was ousted, put out the fire and restored peace to the area, a report added.
In Egypt it is not socially permissible for a Christian man and a Muslim woman to be in a romantic relationship; and a Christian man can only marry a Muslim woman if he converts to Islam.
