UK Church leaders lament violence against Christians in Egypt

Church leaders in the UK have spoken out against the excessive use of military force against Christians in Egypt last weekend that resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, mainly Coptic Christians.

The Egyptian army has claimed that its soldiers acted in self-defence when they opened fire on Christians protesting in Cairo against a recent attack on a church.

According to numerous media reports, video footage and eye witness accounts contradict the army’s claims.

General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, Bishop Angaelos called for the launch of investigations into the military’s conduct and the Egyptian state media for its “inflammatory” coverage of events.

“The same army that said in January that it would ‘not fire a single shot against an Egyptian citizen’ … now used live ammunition and excessive force in this situation, firing lethal shots to the chest and head while armoured troop carriers were driven directly into crowds, mowing people down and killing many,” he said.

The bishop said “major infringements” had been made by the media in making “premature, inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims” that Christians had fired shots at the military.

Human rights groups warn that violence against Christians has only increased since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February, with attacks on churches and Christian property, and dozens of Christians killed.

Many in the Coptic community are angry at what they regard as the inaction of the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The bishop’s call is backed by the chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Mervyn Thomas, who said it was vital that all unresolved acts of violence against Egyptian Christians, including Sunday’s attack, to be “thoroughly addressed”.

He said the credibility of the military had only been undermined by its claims that soldiers were provoked into attacking the Christian protesters.

Its denials “raise further doubts regarding its capability to effectively oversee a transition to democracy”, he said.

In his general audience in Rome on Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI said he was “profoundly saddened” by events in Cairo.

As the nation looks towards parliamentary elections in November, the Pope said it was “vital” to safeguard a peaceful coexistence among communities in Egypt during this period of transition.

"I exhort the faithful to pray that that society might enjoy true peace, based on justice and respect for the freedom and dignity of all citizens,” he said.

"I support the efforts made by the civil and religious authorities in Egypt to foster a society in which everyone's human rights are respected, in particular those of minorities, for the benefit of national unity."

Church leaders in Egypt responded to the attack by calling three days of mourning and prayer across Egypt.

Chair of International Affairs for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Bishop Declan Lang, reassured Egypt's Church leaders of the solidarity of Christians in the UK.

He offered his prayers as the leaders as "strive to heal the wounds dividing the peoples of this great nation and as they labour for peace and justice in Egypt".