Majdī says although last Wednesday’s ‘Umrāniyyah riots are considered by many Coptic activists to be fitnah tā’ifīyah, several eye witnesses testified otherwise. One man says that the event was a dispute over a building and has nothing to do with religion. One of the builders at the site, a Muslim, says that over half the workers involved in the incident are Muslims and added that he considers churches and mosques to be the same, as they are all houses of God.

Key Words: ‘Umrāniyyah riots - fitnah tā’ifīyah