Tensions are high in Egypt following the brutal attack on Christians in Minya on May 27, leaving 29 Christians, among them ten children dead, and 25 others wounded. Father Yo’annis of Qufada told us that most of the Christians came from the dioceses of Maghagha and Fashn, south of Beni Suef.  There is widespread grief and anger in the country, not only in these two dioceses.​

On May 31, a Christian young man walked with his mother on a street in Ezbet el-Nakhl, a poor quarter of Cairo, smoking a cigarette. That is against the norms during Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month. During fasting period no person, also no non-Muslims, are supposed to smoke, eat or drink in the street. What one does at home is one’s own custom. As a consequence, the young man was hassled by local Muslims. He brought his mother home, returned with a knife and stabbed two Muslims to death and escaped. The police caught him and he is now under arrest. Did he do so out of frustration against the terrorist attack on May 27? It is a possibly that remains to be seen but he would not be the first Christian acting out of frustration.

I am currently not in Egypt and thus unable to travel to Maghagha and Fashn. Our French Muslim intern Dina Bouchkouch, however, suggested she would travel to the region to offer condolences on behalf of our Center for Arab-West Understanding. This is very brave and very appreciated. She will report later about her experiences in our newsletter.

June 1, 2017

Cornelis Hulsman,

Deputy Chairman Center for Arab-West Understanding