ICC Note: As Coptic Christians in Egypt celebrate Christmas, the reality of persecution and violence against the community forms a worrying backdrop. Continued violence against Christians, kidnappings, and attacks on churches all continue to threaten Christians even under the governance of President Sisi.

01/06/2016 Egypt (ABC News) Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Christians flocked to churches on Wednesday to attend Masses on Christmas Eve across the predominantly Muslim country, as the government continues to battle a burgeoning Islamic insurgency.

Police painstakingly searched more than 300 churches in the capital, Cairo, alone for explosive devices, according to police Maj. Gen. Gamal Halawa. Roadblocks were set up before churches nationwide and cars and motorcycles were temporarily banned from idling in front of them, he added.

Police targeted “any attempt to spoil the joy of the celebrations with decisive and firm action,” Halawa said.

Militant attacks have multiplied after the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, spreading from the restive Sinai Peninsula and striking the mainland numerous times in recent months. Some extremists in Sinai have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and claimed the downing of a Russian airliner that killed 224 people there last year.

Egypt’s Orthodox Coptic Christians strongly supported the ouster of the first freely elected, but divisive leader. Ever since, Christian gatherings have been at a greater risk of attacks. Following Morsi’s toppling, many Islamists claimed Christians had conspired with the military against them as attacks on Christian homes, businesses and churches surged south of Cairo.

“We have been late in restoring and fixing what has been burned. Everything will be fixed. … Please accept our apologies for what happened,” President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who as military chief led Morsi’s ouster, told the Christian crowds at Cairo’s St. Mark Cathedral in a rare public apology and acknowledgement of the attacks.

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