Egyptian Christians Protest Judicial Ploy

Thousands Expected to Assemble to Demand Equal Representation in Court

Washington, D.C. (April 27, 2010) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on April 28, Egyptian Christians will gather in Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo to protest the continuous postponement of the trial of Mohammed al-Kammuni, the primary suspect charged with killing six Christians in Naga Hammadi.

On April 18, the emergency court hearing of Mohammed al-Kammuni and two other defendants was postponed for a third consecutive time. Coptic Christians are furious, believing that the delay is a government ploy used to cause frustration among the Copts and to deter public attention so that the case is eventually forgotten. Copts suspect that once the case is removed from the forefront of popular debate, the judge will sentence al-Kammuni with an inconsequential punishment or possibly emit an acquittal.

Wagih Yacoub, an outspoken Coptic human rights activist, told ICC, “They are trying to kill the case, and they are blocking the media from broadcasting the case. They are trying to push us to forget the case. This is an emergency court, which should reconvene immediately, but it has been five months now.”

ICC sources expect thousands to be at the protest, including the father of a young man who was shot dead by Muslim fundamentalists in Naga Hammadi. However, protestors have asked Coptic leaders to stay home, stating that Coptic bishops and priests should remain leaders in the church, and avoid becoming entangled in a political movement.

“This is a protest among the Coptic people to express their anger and show the government that we are not forgetting our blood,” said Yacoub. “We will not let them play with us like they did in El-Kush or Abu Fanah. We have requested that leaders of the Copts not involve themselves in politics. They cannot appear in such a protest, or the government will push on the church.”

Yacoub went on to say, “We will keep pushing. We will not be quiet again. They will not shut us out until the court issues proper judgment against those who killed our youth.”

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager of the Middle East, said, “Earlier this year, we saw Copts demonstrating throughout the world in protest of the Egyptian government’s failure to respond to the Naga Hammadi killings. The Christians of Egypt are still dissatisfied. They are continuing in their struggle for equal rights and fair representation in court. Egyptian Christians are courageously demanding that their injustice be known, and ICC stands firmly beside them.”