Two protests by salafists and Copts in front of the defense ministry headquarters demanding the release of prisoners and reopening churches, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, page 3 of May 1, 2011 reported.

On April 30, 2011, the public prosecution informed the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Mark in al-'Abāsīyah district of its subpoena for Kāmīliyā Shihātah, a priest's wife in al-Minya who allegedly converted to Islam and detained by the church.

In return the church refused to receive the subpoena under the pretext that it is interference in the church's internal affairs.