Muslims are now "encouraged to kill Christians" in Egypt (Feb. 2001)

www.copts.net ^ | CAIRO, Feb 5, 2001 | AFP

[miltonim]

Muslims are now "encouraged to kill Christians" in Egypt after a court on Monday acquitted most of those accused of massacring Christians in January last year, a leading Coptic cleric charged.

"All the murderers were acquitted. That means Muslims are encouraged to kill Christians. They are being told 'Go ahead. Kill Coptic Christians'," Bishop Wissa of Balyana, which includes the town of Kosheh, told AFP.

A court in the southern city of Sohag sentenced four Muslims to prison for between one year and 10 years, and acquitted 92 others over the massacre that left 20 Christians and one Muslim dead in the nearby town of Kosheh.

Some 38 of the 58 Muslim defendants had faced the death penalty in the massacre, the worst Christian-Muslim bloodshed in 20 years. "This verdict means that Christians cannot live in safety. It also means that there is no justice or law," the bishop said when contacted by telephone from Cairo.

He said he "expected new massacres of Christians because this verdict means that the life of Christians has no value." When interview by AFP a year ago, Bishop Wissa accused the state security forces in Kosheh of either turning a blind eye or giving the green light for Muslims to attack Copts.

He spoke of lingering anger over the fact that no police were punished for allegedly torturing and mistreating 1,000 Copts during a murder investigation two years earlier.

Meanwhile, Bishop Bassanti of Helwan, near the capital Cairo, urged the court to reconsider its verdict to "preserve national unity" after telling AFP that the decision was "too lenient" and "makes light of human life."

[miltonim]

Muhammad-inspired persecution of Christians, Jews and all non-Muslims continues...

[RussianConservative]

Orthodox ping

[Cicero]

For as long as I can remember there has been open season on Coptic Christians in Egypt. The army and the police often participate in the killings. This goes on year in and year out. So, the question is, exactly what kind of tolerance and good will is our $2 billion annual subsidy to Egypt buying?

It's the biggest, longest-lasting handout in our foreign aid program, and all it seems to buy is Islamic fanaticism and schools for children that teach them to hate Americans, Jews, and Christians before they can read or write.

[river rat]

"Islamic fanaticism"

A murderous cult --- flirting with extinction..
It can't come soon enough to suit me.....

Semper Fi

[egymoh]

EGYPT NEVER ENCOUREGED HARMING CHRISTIAN NOR THE GOVERNMENT OR THE PEOPLE THE PROPEHT OF ISLAM MUHAMMAD SAID WHO MISTREAT A CHRISTIAN OR A JEW IS MISTREATING ME. ALL THESE NEWS ABOUT HARMING CHRISTIAN IS A BUNCH OF LIES IF ANY OF YOU ARE COMING TO EGYPT ASK ANY CHRISTIAN IN THE STREET OR IN CHURCH IF THEY ARE HARMED BECAUSE OF THEIR RELEGION AND SEND SOME DAYS OF IT IS A NICE PLACE FOR VACATION

[realpatriot]

First, welcome to FreeRepublic. Second, STOP SHOUTING! Third, there is overwhelming evidence against your argument regarding islam. You provide anecdotal "evidence."

You'll have to do better.