The inhabitants of the city Dayr Mawwās and the village of Diljā stood up against the supporters of the deposed former president, Morsi, blocking them from storming into and attacking the churches of Virgin Mary and Saint Abram (Ibrā’ām), during Saturday night (July 27) demonstrations. Amjad ‘Izzat, official spokesperson for the diocese of Dayr Mawwās, said that the Muslim youths of the village, elders, and security apparatus, succeeded in containing the sectarian crisis, that caused no deaths or injuries.

The demonstration was held in the center of the city of al-Minya, where the protesters destroyed the glass facades of three shops and the mirrors of 15 cars, until the security forces managed the situation and arrested three demonstrators. According to an eyewitness, Morsi’s supporters were also throwing stones at Coptic Orthodox Saint George Church and Molotov cocktails at the other two churches (Ashraf Kamāl, al-Wafd, July 29, p. 3). The article has no link online.