[El-Basha]

Statement on the latest armed attack on Copts and the holy Christian's places of worshipin Egypt

Coptic organizations across the world

Coptic organizations across the world condemns the brutal barbarism attacks against the archaeological ancient Abu Fana Christian Monastery in Egypt (300km south of Cairo in Malaoui district). This is not the first time, for such attacks by the armed and brutal mob perpetrated to take place against the monastery in a broad daylight. The latest attack happens under the sight and with the knowledge and protection of the Egyptian security forces. The monastery was a target for a warhead.

The latest attack on Abu Fana Monastery has injured four monks with shot guns, as well as kidnapping three monks (Monk Andrews, Monk Maximos and Monk Youanas). The three hostages’ monks were later released the next day. The three kidnapped monks were brutally tortured, and badly humiliated. As result of the beating their injuries were mixes of broken limbs, fractures, cuts & burses. These injuries were caused by sixty armed aggressor (Arab Ganges). The Arab gangs were carrying automatic arms resulting in damaging the monastery properties (theft of the monastery equipments, burning and destruction of the monastery’s buildings and farms as well as burning the farm tractors ...)

So far, the fate of Abraham Taqi Riyad still unknown. Abraham is a brother to one of the monks, monk Mena

Such crimes of armed attacks on churches and shops owned by Copts (Christian Egyptian) are taken place in a broad daylight. The attacks have taken a systematic and planned nature, to suggest it is genocide against Copts. The main target is to weaken the Copts and eliminate them physical, morally and materially

Coptic bodies will not tolerate or watch in silent such human crimes. These violations committed against the Copts, are incompatible with all international charters of human rights. The Copts organizations will escalate its campaign to the highest level at the international level

Based on the seriousness of the attacks on Christians in Egypt, the authorities have failed to act in a reasonable time. The lax of the Egyptian security authorities, are suggesting collusion with the attackers

A Provocative statement was made by the Minya’s Governor (General Ahmed Dia Eddin) claim the incident is an ordinary quarrel between neighbours for a dispute over ownership of land. Mr Ahmed Dia Eddin also claims there were exchanges of between both sides

Both claims were totally not true. The unarmed monks do not have any weapons and were not exchanging any with the armed sixty attackers.
The Governor has also alleged there a Muslim person have been felt dead

It worth noting, these statements issued by the Government will have a negative impact on the integrity and transparency of the investigation

These alligations by the Governor, is giving the security forces the opportunity to twist the facts. As a result the Security Director Major General Mohamed Nur Eddin has accused some monks of inciting Christians to clash with the Arab and muslim gangs. These claims by the Egyptian Security Director are a fabrication and out of any logical facts

The undersigned Copts organizations appeals to the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council to urgently set up an international fact-finding committee

The fact-finding committee objectives are

• To ascertain the causes of the armed attacks against the lives and properties of the Egyptian Christians - Copts
  
• To speed up directing the Egyptian government to take action in order to protect Christian lives and properties

Signatories

1. The Coptic Foundation for Human Rights Switzerland
2. The Canadian Coptic association
3. Copts are united England)
4. The United American Copts
5. The French Coptic association
6. The Dutch Coptic association
7. Middle East Christian Union Austria
8. Voice of Copts Italy
9. Middle East Christian Association
10. California Copts Association
11. Cultures and notables Copts Organization in France
12. The Australian Coptic Association
13. The International United Copts
14. The Austria Coptic Association
15. The united Copts in California
16. Word Centre for Human Rights in Cairo,
    

The international complains will lodged by group of Egyptian lawyers, Mr Salim Hanna, Mr Zaki Naguib and Mr Awaed Shafiq.