Hossam el-Hamalawy
Brutal clashes took place today in Shobra, as police cracked down on Coptic protesters (joined by leftists and rights activists). There are around 15 activists kettled as I’m typing now, and at least five in police custody.
The Coptic church had a disgraceful role as always today trying to persuade the youth not to protest or attack the regime. The church continues to be a diffuser of dissent. But it’s clear the militancy and resistance of the young Copts cannot be easily contained.
Police violently clashed with Coptic protesters in Omraniya, Wednesday morning, after hundreds demonstrated in front of the Giza Governorate HQ, denouncing the authorities’ halt of a church construction. At least one protester was killed, more than 50 were injured.
A journalist friend present in the scene confirmed there was a number of Muslim protesters who also joined the rioting against the police in solidarity. Moreover, the Coptic protesters chanted “Long live the Cross with the Crescent” – a 1919 revolution slogan that supports national unity against the oppressor.
One of the eyewitnesses, in the Al-Jazeera report below, also said that the Copts made it clear they “had no quarrels with Muslims, only with the government.”