“Has the Egyptian army, with all of its arms and manpower, become incapable of freeing the few thousands of Copts resident in Diljā from the oppression and terrorism of the Muslim Brotherhood?”  

The village of Diljā has become one of the tense hotspots in Upper Egypt; the Copts there have been exposed to continuing persecution, intimidation, and violence since Morsi (Mursī)’s departure. Following his departure, the Muslim Brotherhood turned the village into a Muslim Brotherhood colony by erecting iron blockades, using human shields, and firing bullets to prevent the army and security from entering the village to save the Copts.

A Copt, who wished to remain anonymous due to his fear of Muslim Brotherhood revenge, said that his shop has been closed since June 30 because he received threats from the Muslim Brotherhood. Many of the village’s Copts work in governmental offices, but they are still absent from work because of their fear of leaving their homes and the village (Muhammad al-Zaharāwī, al-Tahrīr, Aug. 28, p. 9). This article does not have a link online.

(Flynne Rushton, Intern)