Dozens of properties owned by Christians were massacred in Egypt June 17 after a rumor spread that a church was getting built.
A group of “extremist” Muslims in Al-Beida — a village near Alexandria — torched properties, leaving several injured, according to International Christian Concern (ICC). The rampage allegedly started at the construction site and went on to the rest of the village. The rumor later turned out to be false, and “the church” was meant to be a private home.
“On Friday afternoon, following Friday noon prayer, a great deal of fanatic Muslims gathered in front of the new house of my cousin, Naim Aziz, during its construction because of a rumor spread in the village that this building would be turned into a church,” Christian Al-Beida resident Mousa Zarif told ICC.
An ICC report of the massacre states the mob was “looting houses and setting fire to any Christian property in their wake.” Police were unable to stop the violence upon arrival at the scene. Six suspects were arrested.
“The police and government authorities in Egypt cannot allow these attacks to go unpunished because the victims come from a minority faith,” William Stark, ICC’s regional manager for South Asia said in a press release. “We call on the Egyptian authorities to ensure that justice is served and that Christian communities like this be protected from further assault in Egypt.”
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