The Latest Target: Coptic Christians

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan does not recognize any citizens of their country as being Christian. They also disallow any citizens from legally converting to Christianity. There is one legally recognized church congregation in Afghanistan, located within the diplomatic enclave and closed to Egyptian nationals. Yet an underground church worships in the country. The U. S. Department of State estimates the size of this group at 500 to 8,000. And reports coming out of the country say life has been increasingly difficult for them in the past decade.

Then there's Nigeria, driving Christians from the North.And when I visited Jordan several years ago, a moderate Muslim leader told our small group of journalists that Christians were leaving their country in droves, finding it increasingly difficult to raise families in a hostile environment.

And then there are the Coptic Christians struggling with intense persecution in Egypt. Unlike many denominations, the Coptic Christians must identify their religion on official papers. And Compass Direct News has reported that yesterday funeral services were held for some of the victims of a Sunday military attack against Christian protesters that left 26 dead and hundreds wounded.

"In the wake of what could be the worst act of violence against Egyptian Christians in modern history, leaders of the Coptic Orthodox Church have called for three days of fasting and prayer for divine intervention, along with three days of mourning.

"Leaders from other faith traditions among Egyptian Christians reported similar efforts among their congregations.

"Samia Sidhom, managing editor for the Coptic weekly Al Watani, said Copts across Egypt are distraught about the attack and the future for Christians across the country.

"The attack started late Sunday afternoon (Oct. 9) when Christian protesters marching through Cairo began getting pelted with rocks and other projectiles near an overpass that cuts through downtown Cairo. By the time the protesters were able to make it to a television and radio broadcasting building commonly known as the Maspero Building, the army began shooting into the crowd and ramming riot-control vehicles into the protesters.

"Witnesses at the scene reportedly said attacks left body parts scattered at the scene. Amateur video at the scene shows two riot-control vehicles plowing into the crowd of protesters.

"The protest came in response to a Sept. 30 attack in Upper Egypt, where the Mar Gerges Church building was burned down along with several Christian-owned homes and businesses in Elmarenab village in Aswan.

"The church building, which was being renovated, was attacked by local Muslims who claimed the congregation had no right to build it, despite legal documents parish priests put forth to the contrary. The local Muslims claimed the structure was a hospitality house.

"Before the attack, parishioners of the church took down crosses outside the building. When it was being destroyed, contractors where removing domes that local Muslims held to be offensive.

"The Mar Gerges burning was the third church in Egypt in seven months to be burned down by a mob.

"Sidhom said Christian protesters were particularly upset about the church attack because the government blamed them for it, claiming the building was a hospitality house with illegal construction taking place.

"Coptic Christians, once a majority in Egypt, now make up 7 to 10 percent of the country’s 80 million people."

More on this story in today's New York Times. Link to today'sTimes photo essay.

More on Nigeria.

Persecution in Somalia.

Photo, courtesy TalkMediaNews.