Muslims, Copts reconcile in Minya

A site of a series of sectarian clashes over the past month, the Bani Ahmad village in Minya saw a reconciliation session between Muslims and Copts on Sunday, state run news agency MENA reported.

The session was coordinated by security officials, a reconciliation committee, representatives of the families in question, and religious scholars.

Earlier this month, sectarian clashes took place between Muslims and Copts in Bani Ahmad, leaving around 15 people injured. The clashes reportedly started with a verbal spat between two people in a cafe, then escalated into a fight. People on both sides were reportedly injured, as well as an assistant detective and three soldiers.

A hub of sectarian tension following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi by the military on July 3, Minya also saw the attack of a building affiliated with a Coptic church last month by a group of pro-Morsi supporters.

The attendees of the meeting agreed on several clauses including dropping all court cases and complaints related to the clashes and putting a LE1 million fine in place should any group attack the other.

The attendees also agreed to form a committee of eight members who will work on “curbing sedition.”