Thursday 8 August 2013

Press Release: 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.

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.

In his statement, Bishop Angaelos said:

“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