Hundreds of Muslims and Christians gathered in front of Saint George Church in Banī Ahmad in al-Minya governorate demanding that a priest would not return to the church.

A Coptic bishop in al-Minya had given instructions to remove the priest to another area.

Salafists threatened to kill that priest if he did not leave the village.

On the other hand, the governorate's archbishopric expressed its discontent over the situation to officials and asked the protesting rally be dispersed.

The archbishopric said that it exclusively is in charge of church affairs, adding that no one is allowed to interfere.

[Reviewer's Note: News story was also covered in al-Misrī al-Yawm, page 4, June 25, 2011, and al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, page 6, June 25, 2011]

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