Protesters March to President's Palace Demanding Action After Cathedral Attacks
In response to the unprovoked attacks of mourners at St. Mark's Cathedral on Sunday, protesters walked through Cairo chanting slogans of peace and unity.
Protesters marched from Al-Fatah Mosque in Ramsis with their path taking them to the presidential palace after passing by St. Mark's Cathedral.
The protesters chanted "Down with the rule of the MB," "The people want to overthrow the regime" and "Muslims and Christians united" in protest of the attacks that took place on Sunday after the funeral of a Khosos victim and the infringement made against the cathedral and Pope Tawadros II.
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A number of political, youth and Coptic movements participated in the march, with members holding joint press conference yesterday to condemn the presidency's attitude towards the attacks. Protesters also accused governmental forces of being responsible for the spilling of Egyptian blood while demanding the departure of the current regime.
In addition to the protests, a leading human rights organization has urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to investigate the deadly St. Mark's Cathedral attacks and bring those responsible to justice.
Human Rights First (HRF) demands the government "immediately establish a public inquiry into incidents of sectarian violence that have occurred in recent weeks, including yesterday's clashes around Cairo's main Coptic Christian cathedral," according to a HRF statement published on their website.
"Those implicated in acts of sectarian violence should be prosecuted and member of the security forces who failed in their duties to protect citizens should be held accountable," the statement added.
HRF's international policy advisor Neil Hicks warned that the continued rise in sectarian violence is an indication that the country's security forces cannot provide the security of its citizens.
"The escalating sectarian violence is a further sign of the deteriorating security situation in Egypt that, in turn, is the product of an intractable political stalemate," Hicks said.
