In the city of Mallāwī  in al-Minya governorate that winessed several clashes, the feelings of anger grew. Here Muslims and Christians have been working together to extinguish the fire that was burning the churches.

Tāmir Ibrāhīm, a Muslim and an eye witness to the Evangelical Church’s burning, said that whoever set fire to the churches is not a real Muslim: “This is haram (forbidden) and this shouldn’t happen to the Christians,” explaining that along with the burning of the church after Friday prayers, thugs also looted it. He said that the Brotherhood is doing this after its leaders disappeared after the deposal of Morsi; “they have a huge influence on people”. He added that after Friday prayer some Morsi’s supporters left the ʿIrfānī Mosque in a march against the Rabaʿah al-ʿAdawiyyah sit-in dispersal. “There were some people gathered in front of the church, nearly 25, carrying guns and live ammunition. No one managed to extinguish the fire, the police station was fired upon, and they were throwing butane gas cylinders from the top of the building next to the church.”

ʿUmar Saʿad, who works in one of the shops facing the church of Mallāwī, said that whoever did that is not a Muslim and that whoever is Muslim should not commit such attacks. According to him, the attacks have two targets: first, to destroy the country and provoke fitna. He said, “This is the goal of the Brotherhood ruling or destroying the country, but Egypt is strong due to its army and its police.”

ʿUmar explained the relations between Muslims and Christians in Mallāwī, and said that on his street there are four Christian families and they always exchange greetings for holidays and feasts. “When there are problems between a Christian and Muslim it’s for usual reasons and not because of religion”(Ahmad Manʿim and Muhammad ʿAlī Zaīdān, al-Watan, Aug. 24, p. 11) Read original text in Arabic.

(Federica Raimondi, Ahmed Khaled Abdallah, Interns)