The human rights organization Human Rights Watch has urged Egyptian authorities to provide protection to Christian churches, organizations, and property and called on Islamists not to incite sectarian violence. The organization has blamed the authorities for not protecting Christians, especially as attacks of this nature were expected for weeks, claiming that there were incidents where churches were being attacked and the monks or bishops tried to get the help of the police, but were ignored. They documented 42 incidents of attacks on Christian buildings or property, and in most of them neither the army nor the police were anywhere to be seen. The organization also criticized Islamist groups, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, for their anti-Christian rhetoric. They say that some Brotherhood leaders have condemned the attacks on Christians, but that others have insinuated that Copts have played a role in encouraging repression of the Muslim Brotherhood (Mustafá Sha’abān, al-Masrīyūn, Aug. 25, p. 5). This article has no link online.

(Rob Bental, Intern)