In a fear-dispelling step by Islamists, religious parties and entities competed to offer congratulations for Copts on the occasion of the Eastern Christmas and form human shields to protect Christian houses of worship during the celebrations. “The Salafī Da’wah (Call) Organization has formed human shields and informal groups all over Kafr al-Sheikh to protect the Copts’ houses of worship during their festivities,” said Dr. Tāriq al-Bītār, the organization chief in the governorate that lies 140 kilometers north of Cairo.

He added that the protection of Copts “is a religious and national duty, even if it takes the lives of our young people. Our religion exhorts us to preserve those who live with us in the homeland”. 

Rajab al-Bannā, the Secretary-General of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood group, in Kafr al-Sheikh, said the group’s youths formed human shields and informal vigilantes of more than 300 young men to protect churches and Christian houses of worship during their Christmas celebrations, adding this is a national duty.

Meanwhile, Bishop Kyrillos of Naja’ Hammādī and its surroundings said some young Copts in the city have received death threats and contacts about criminal incidents that would copycat the Coptic Christmas massacre in Naja’ Hammādī in January 2010, which left six Copts and one Muslim killed and nine others wounded. 

“Qena Governor Major General ‘Ādil Labīb and Qena Security Director Major Muhammad Halīmah about these threats,” said Bishop Kyrillos in statements to al-Shurūq al-Jadīd newspaper. 

Halīmah denied he received any reports from Bishop Kyrillos about threats for possible criminal operations on Christmas. “Tight security measures were taken around the churches anyway,” he said. [Yūsuf Rāmiz, Muhammad Nasār and Māhir 'Abd al-Sabūr, Al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, P. 3, Dec. 30] Read original text in Arabic