Muslims Injure Christians in Attack on Christian Center in Egypt

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Article Source: ICC, Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 24, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has
learned that several Christians, including a priest, were injured after
Muslims attacked a Christian center in the city of Ezbet Boshra-East in
Egypt. Police arrested 19 Christians following the attack.

Father Issac Castor told ICC and the Voice of the Copts that the attack took
place on June 21 at 11 A.M., when 25 young Copts traveled from Cairo to
visit him. Currently living in a three-story building owned by the Coptic
Church, Father Castor told the visitors that only five people should come
into his house at a time because the police prohibit any gathering of people
at the building. As soon as the five young people entered the building,
police observers informed local Muslims about the gathering.

Muslim fanatics soon arrived, carrying sticks and stones and began
assaulting the Christians. They also broke into several Christian homes in
the city and vandalized a car belonging to Father Castor.

The police took no action to protect the Christians from the assault.
Instead of arresting the offenders, the police put the Christians in the
city under curfew.

This is not the first time that Christians in the city of Ezbet Boshra-East
have come under attack. In July 2008, Christian farmlands were vandalized,
and their domestic animals were poisoned by Muslims after a group of
Christians conducted services at the Christian center. The services were
held at the center because the Egyptian authorities refused to allow them to
construct a church.

In an interview with ICC, Father Castor said, *"We need our religious
freedom. We need to be able to pray and build our church." *

Jonathan Racho, ICC's Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East, said,
*"The attack on Christians and their properties is a gross violation of
their rights. It is shameful that the Egyptian police instigated the
assault. We call upon the Egyptian authorities to investigate these unjust
actions against Christians and bring the perpetrators to justice. We also
ask Egypt to release the 19 arrested Christians." *

Please call the Egyptian embassy and ask the Egyptian officials to release
the 19 imprisoned Christians and allow for the construction of a church in
the city of Ezbet Boshra-East.

*Egyptian Embassies:*

*  Country Phone Fax Email USA 202-895-5400 202-244-4319
Embassy@egyptembassy.net Canada 613-234-4931 (613) 234-4398
egyptemb@sympatico.ca, egypt4931@rogers.com UK 020-7499-2401 / 499 3304
020-7491-1542 info@egpressoffice.com Australia (61 2) 9281-4844
612-9281-4344 info@egypt.org.au Germany 030-477-5470 030-477-1049
Embassy@egyptian-embassy.de Italy +39-6-8440192/ 0191 +39-6-8554424
amb.egi@pronet.it

*ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church.  For additional information
or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.*

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference
ICC (International Christian Co