Amnesty International called yesterday (August 19) for a clear commitment by the Egyptian state to ensure the safety of the Coptic Christian community from the sectarian attacks aimed at them, due to the unprecedented rise in the frequency of acts of violence targeting Copts in various parts of the country. The organization also said that many of the attacks appeared to be in retaliation for supposed Coptic support for the overthrow of Morsi. Activists reported that in some cases the attackers desecrated graves and held Muslim prayers in churches. The organization pointed out that the situation Minya is grave right now, especially as the locals, including a police officer, have stated that Coptic churches are under siege right now, especially since they are claimed to have not been protected as they should have been by the security forces (Injy Majdī, al-Yawm al-Sabi’, Aug. 20). Read original text in Arabic.

(Federica Raimondi, Intern)