The Maspero Youth Union have shown their concern regarding “the state’s following of the systemic persecution of Copts,” and “the state’s failure to protect Egyptian Copts in Libya, who had their rights violated and were convicted with false accusations that stem from blind intolerance.”
In a statement, the Union noted the continued acts of violence and transgressions practiced by some of the extremist Islamist parties that aim to segregate Egypt, which was evident in the events that took place at the Fayoum church, the Beni Suef church and, lately, the Kom Ombo church.
The statement continued, “This is considered a violation of the state of law and of their human rights, a matter which the State is completely responsible for, concerning these events.”
The Union added that they will “adopt all means of escalation in a bid to stop these criminal acts in a legal manner.”
The Coptic Youth Front threatens escalation:
The Coptic Youth Front threatened to escalate the issue internationally in accordance with international law and conventions signed by Egypt.
In a conference held at the Fatimid Egypt Center in Cairo, the front said it will begin a series of demonstrations outside foreign embassies in Egypt after 48 hours if the presidency does not take positive steps towards respect for Copts as Egyptian citizens with full rights. They said the actions come in reaction to the systematic persecution against Egypt’s Christians through attacks on churches, seizure of Copts’ land and kidnapping of Christian girls, especially minors.
The front said Copts saw 15 cases of forced disappearances and attacks on churches in one week, from February 26 to March 3, 2013, as well as killing of Copts in Amiriyah, Alexandria, and seizure of lands.
The front said the police moved within 48 hours to uncover the fate of a Muslim woman who disappeared in Aswan but did not address the attack on the church there or the circulation of false rumors against Copts, as in the Wasta accident in Beni Suef, in which Salafis accused the church of hiding a Muslim girl.
“President Mohamed Morsi has lost his legitimacy as president and no longer believes in citizenship, considering only the interest of his group,” said Fayiz Said, coordinator of the front. “He committed deliberate crimes against Copts in Egypt, and the state institutions keep silent on what Copts suffer of attacks and seizure of their property and kidnapping of their daughters, which is a clear violation of all international conventions binding the state to respect the rights of minorities.”
The group’s announcement came during a conference announcing the start of a ‘Week of Coptic Anger.’ The group said that during this week, it “will go to some embassies to submit a file to officials of human rights including infringements against Copts and failed ways the Egyptian government followed to solve them, and will sit in outside these embassies.”
The Coptic Youth Front includes members of the Maspero Youth Union, Association of Victims of Abductions and Forced Disappearance and the Copts Without Restrictions movement.
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Edited from: http://www.mcndirect.com/showsubject.aspx?id=43120
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