In early May attacks on Coptic Christian churches in working class suburb of Imbaba in Cairo left 12 people dead, both Christians and Muslims, and 180 wounded. It is reported that 190 people have been detained for their part in clashes around the attacks.

It is reported that a group of Salafis, followers of an extreme branch of Islam, gathered outside the Saint Mina church demanding the release of a woman they claimed was being held in church custody after her alleged conversion to Islam.According to witnesses and amateur video, a group of men attacked the church with machetes, gunfire and petrol-bombs, and a church nearby was set ablaze in the fighting.

Late on Sunday 8 May, scuffles broke out between about 400 protesters denouncing the sectarian mobs and dozens of men from the nearby district. Muslim and Christian protesters had gathered in front of Cairo’s High Court ahead of a march for national unity when they were pelted by stones thrown by men from the nearby district. The two groups then clashed, throwing stones and rocks at each other before dispersing.

The district’s top Salafi cleric, Mohamed Ali, said he had investigated the story about the woman convert and found it “totally false”. Salafist leaders condemned the sectarian violence and claimed their followers had played no organised role in it.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write polite and respectful emails to:

Dr Essam Sharaf

Prime Minister

Magles El Shaab St, Kasr El Aini St.

Cairo, EGYPT

E-mail: primemin@idsc.gov.eg

Salutation : Dear Prime Minister

His Excellency Mr Omar Metwally Mohamed

Tawfic Metwally

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt

1 Darwin Avenue

Yarralumla, ACT, 2600

E-mail: egyembassy@bigpond.com

Salutation: Your Excellency

Points to make in your letter:

• Express concern at the violent clashes in Imbaba, Cairo at the start of May that left at least 12 people dead and resulted in a church being burnt down.
• Welcome the Egyptian Government’s arrest of 190 people involved in the violence and its stated commitment to put an end to sectarian violence.
• Ask how many people have been prosecuted for the murders at the start of May.
• Ask what concrete steps the Government is taking to end sectarian violence and build harmony between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt.

You could also write to Minister Rudd asking that he raise the above points with the Egyptian authorities:

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Parliament House

Canberra, ACT, 2600