PRESS
RELEASE
For
immediate use
8 August
2013
Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General
Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom releases a statement
highlighting the increasing incitement and violence threatening and claiming
the lives of Christians in Egypt.
The statement
comes shortly after a number of Egyptian and International human rights
organisations warn of a wave of violence to come, with Amnesty InternationalUK, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), and the U.S. Commissionon International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) releasing reports detailing the
violence facing Copts since the ousting of the former president of Egypt.
“Egypt
cannot move forward while state apparatus does not hold people accountable for
these unlawful hate crimes that stand to divide the country further, promoting increased
polarisation at every level. Proactive efforts must be made towards
promoting social cohesion and inclusion for all members of society so that this
new phase of Egyptian history can be built upon true unity, collaboration, and
reconciliation.”
In a report released in July 2013, Amnesty
International UK stated:
“First and foremost, the authorities must
immediately take necessary measures to ensure security for
Christians and other minorities and uphold their right to life and physical integrity.”
In August 2013, the EIPR released a report
that stated:
“The
undersigned organizations note the destructive effects both of the sectarian
rhetoric used by some Islamists to incite against Christians and of the
negligence demonstrated by security forces in protecting these citizens.”
*Ends*
Resources:
Amnesty International Report, July 2013: http://bit.ly/164IkV0
EIPR Report, August 2013: http://bit.ly/1bC1I0q
USCIRF Annual Report 2013: http://1.usa.gov/135JPTy and http://1.usa.gov/14nF6h8
