It follows one of the worst sectarian clashes since President Mohamed Morsi took power which left one person dead outside the Egyptian capital’s Coptic cathedral on April 7.
Several other mourners were left injured after being pelted with stones outside the cathedral, where they were attending funeral prayers for four Christians killed in sectarian clashes the day before.
Australian Coptic Movement Association member Peter Tadros said the violence amounted to “state-sponsored” terrorism.
What is happening is state-sponsored terrorism when you have police attacking mourners,” he told AAP at the rally.
“There is no other way to describe it, it is a form of terrorism.
“We are at a stage here when every single family amongst Australia’s 100,000-strong Egyptian Coptic community either has a family member who has been killed, or knows someone who has.”
Mr Kelly said Australia has not done enough to put pressure on the Egyptian government.
“We now have a seat on the security council, and that only lasts for two years, so we need to make sure we are using that voice in every opportunity that we can,” he told AAP.
Mr Kelly said there would be a “contagion effect” throughout the Middle East if the Egyptian state collapsed.
“It’s not time for silence or appeasement or thinking we should go softly.
“We are basically at a crossroads in the Middle East today.”
But former immigration minister Chris Bowen said the government was doing enough.
He said Foreign Minister Bob Carr had raised the issue with Mr Morsi as well as his counterparts in the US and UK.
“He’s made it clear that Australia stands ready to support improving the situation of the Christian community in the Middle East,” Mr Bowen told AAP at the rally.
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AAP – The Australian