More Egypt Clashes Between Muslims and Coptic Christians Leave 29 Injured (PHOTOS)
A protest over 25 slain Christians in Egypt last month turned hostile in Cairo on Thursday as believers clashed with Muslims and police in a new string of violence, leaving at least 29 injured.
According to Reuters, a group of residents from a local neighborhood gathered and threw stones at the protestors, which led to clashes between the two groups. During the Oct. 9 clashes that led to the deaths of 25 protesters, state media called upon Muslims to take arms against the minority Christians in the country.
Coptic Christians, who are speaking against the brutality and violence they have experienced at the hands of the Egyptian officials since former President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February, marched through the Shoubra suburb and headed for Tahrir Square in the capital.
The activists fought, and the two sides threw stones and Molotov cocktails at each other. Riot police rushed to the scene soon after and helped break up the fight. The protestors dispersed when a priest was called on to ask the crowds to calm down and leave.
No fatal incidents were reported in the recent incident, but the Ministry of Health in Cairo said the people were bruised and cut, and some event fainted in the scuffles.
Thousands of people have been hurt in antigovernment clashes in Egypt since the regime change, and Coptic Christians worry that the new government will continue the practice while offering little protection.
The Muslim Brotherhood is gaining popularity in the country and is set to win several important seats in the parliament elections in two weeks.
The alliance vowed to enact Sharia Law in the country that allows people of other faiths to continue practicing their religion, but all citizens would be subject to strict Islamic laws.
Some of the laws include people having their limbs cut off for stealing, and women requiring male witnesses to prove rape and abuse attacks.