Attack On Coptic Christians Kills At Least 24 In Egypt

[24 Hours]

May 26, 2017
6:42 AM ET

BILL CHAPPELL

Gunmen fired on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in Minya, where many Christians live in Egypt. Here, a photo from 2015 shows Coptic Christians walking outside St. Markos Church in Minya.

Roger Anis/AP
Gunmen attacked a bus that was taking Egyptian Christians to a monastery Friday, killing at least 24 people and wounding 27 more, according to local officials and NPR's Jane Arraf.

The death toll was announced by a spokesman for Egypt's health ministry.

The attack occurred in Minya, a province some 160 miles south of Cairo along the Nile River.

"Minya province has the largest percentage of Christians in Egypt," Jane reports. "Religious tension in some communities in Minya has increased in recent years and in many villages, they are prevented from building churches."

Coptic Christians were targeted by two deadly attacks in northern Egypt last month, in suicide bombings that killed at least 44 people.

 

[Alithemoor1]

RIP to the victims!

 

[Gomig-21]

A very dark, filthy, evil force that has frighteningly gained strength through the past 3 decades. The problem with this type of evil, dark, despicable entities is that not only are they almost impossible to eradicate, they spawn very easily. Once you destroy one, 2 more are recruited and so on. I worry that this filthy, evil force which is worldwide will never be taken out. It's only getting stronger. And now that we are in the day and age of the fastest telecommunications -- which is basically done in real time -- the luring, brainwashing and recruiting is achieved on a very aggressive level that makes it even more difficult to destroy.

This filthy, evil force has mutated into many forms but the bastardization in the justification of this terrorism is essentially the same concept, to fight the infidel in whatever form they come in whether it's foreign presence in Muslim territory or coexisting people of other faiths seen as kuffaar, as in this most unfortunate scenario.

Why would these Egyptian Christians ever want to stay in their own country if they're persecuted in this evil manner? How can they ever feel safe if it will be impossible to rid this filthy form of satanic evil? How do we, as tolerant Muslims stand up against this filthy, evil entity and protect these vulnerable countrymen and women and children?

I fear this is something we might never be able to destroy.

 

[Falcon29]

A very dark, filthy, evil force that has frighteningly gained strength through the past 3 decades. The problem with this type of evil, dark, despicable entities is that not only are they almost impossible to eradicate, they spawn very easily. Once you destroy one, 2 more are recruited and so on. I worry that this filthy, evil force which is worldwide will never be taken out. It's only getting stronger. And now that we are in the day and age of the fastest telecommunications -- which is basically done in real time -- the luring, brainwashing and recruiting is achieved on a very aggressive level that makes it even more difficult to destroy.

This filthy, evil force has mutated into many forms but the bastardization in the justification of this terrorism is essentially the same concept, to fight the infidel in whatever form they come in whether it's foreign presence in Muslim territory or coexisting people of other faiths seen as kuffaar, as in this most unfortunate scenario.

Why would these Egyptian Christians ever want to stay in their own country if they're persecuted in this evil manner? How can they ever feel safe if it will be impossible to rid this filthy form of satanic evil? How do we, as tolerant Muslims stand up against this filthy, evil entity and protect these vulnerable countrymen and women and children?

I fear this is something we might never be able to destroy.

Don't lose hope my friend, we can take away most factors that might give reason for individuals to join IS or other extremist groups. It will take time, but it will be minimized in the future. Those factors are well known, poverty, frustration with policies of local gov't, conflict, etc.... What can also be done is promote a moderate Islam against IS ideology, which Muslim Brotherhood could have helped with but obviously now there is a schism between MB and local gov't. So I don't know how to solve that. Unless there is a new pan-Islamic like foundation that we make clear to the people.

Just like the summit in Riyadh, there should be something like that more often to discuss affairs in Muslim world, both social and political, on a monthly basis. And equip the youth to take up these matters too. Give them sense of community and belonging. We don't lack sense of community in Arab world, but some are finding that it is getting more liberal or at least the governments are straying away from core matters they believe are important in Islam, thus they are looking for that kind religious belonging too. I emphasize youth since it is only older people taking up our affairs in all our gov't. We need to give the youth platform to influence their future.

If this militancy issues becomes even worse in the future, we can form an pan-Islamic volunteer force which people can use as their outlet rather than joining extremist groups. You can also moderate their views in this force and give youth sense that the affairs are looked after.

 

[Rafi]

RIP the evil filth strike again.

 

[Mrc]

Extremly bad and unfirgiveable crime against islam and humanity...

My thoughts go out for victims.... this vermin needs to be squashed with extreemee prejudice

 

[Cthulhu]

RIP to the deceased, Fast recovery to the injured.

 

[Arefin007]

Rest in Peace

 

[Muhammed45]

RIP

A 5 years old kid amongst the victims, couldn't post due to graphic content.

 

[The Sandman]

R.I.P really sad to hear it condolences to the family's.