Cabinet ‘deeply concerned’ about Beni Suef violence

The Cabinet has issued a statement expressing its deep concern regarding sectarian clashes that broke out in Beni Suef on Saturday, the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported on Monday.

The clashes broke out in the village of Diabiya when a Christian woman allegedly tried to build an artificial speed bump on the road in front of her house, angering her Muslim neighbor. Beni Suef Security Directorate chief Ibrahim Hadeeb claimed the dispute then extended to the families of both women, the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm reported.

The ensuing argument degenerated into violence when a group of men allegedly burned the facade of a church in the village and four homes belonging to Christian families. Fifteen were reportedly injured in the incidents, which carried through until Sunday.

Cabinet spokesperson Sherif Shawky told MENA that the government condemned all sectarian violence, and would work tirelessly to prevent any threats to national unity.

To that end, the Cabinet decided to revive the National Council for Justice and Equality, which was established two years ago but never activated, Shawky said. The council was intended to address sectarian conflicts and engage civil society forces in combating them.

MENA reported that the prosecution is investigating the involvement of 13 defendants in the case, including eight Muslims and five Copts who were arrested during the clashes.

Leaders of the liberal Free Egyptians Party and the hardline conservative Islamist Construction and Development Party both condemned the clashes, according to MENA.

“We are completely peaceful and innocent of any acts of violence,” said Atef Marzouk, spokesperson for the Construction and Development Party, the political arm of Jama’a al-Islamiya.

Jama’a al-Islamiya and the Muslim Brotherhood have both been accused of inciting sectarian violence in Upper Egyptian cities following Islamist President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster on July 3.

In Minya, hundreds of Christians and Muslims battled for days in several villages last week after a verbal altercation between a Christian and a Muslim man turned violent.

Sectarian strife has also reared its head in Cairo and Sinai this summer. 

Last week, 16 human rights organizations issued a statement of concern regarding the violent targeting of Christians and their churches since June 30. 

The statement called on the state to assume responsibility for protecting Christian citizens. 

“Egyptian security forces should be on high alert to prevent and halt sectarian violence in the current tense and polarized situation,” said Nadim Houry, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement released by the organization late July.

“Egypt’s religious and political leaders should denounce the dangerous escalation of sectarian attacks,” he added.

Coptic activists have called for marches from Cairo’s predominately Coptic Shubra neighborhood to Maspero in protest against the Beni Suef violence.

The campaign launched on Facebook accused the Muslim Brotherhood of instigating the clashes.