Egyptians continue to react to the news that an Egyptian court has decided on the death sentence for Hammām al-Kamūnī, the man convicted for his part in the shooting of six Christians and a Muslim security officer outside a church in Naj‘ Hammādī in January, 2010.
According to Sawt al-Ummah on Saturday, Bishop Kyrillos of Naj‘ Hammādī says the decision to execute al-Kamūnī has “satisfied the Copts and upset the Muslims and al-Kamūnī’s relatives,” adding that he fears the consequences of the decision, “which could prompt al-Kamūnī’s relatives to take revenge on Copts in Qena.”
Those killed in the attack were “martyrs representing the early Christians who suffered Roman persecution and death, which is considered by the church to be the most refined type of martyrdom for Christ,” Kyrillos was quoted by the paper as saying.
His statements were slammed by Sa‘īd ‘Abd al-Masīh, a Coptic lawyer involved in the case. He specifically argued that Kyrillos’ claim that the sentence had upset Muslims, as well as his emphasis on the alleged “blessed nature” of the death of Christians, prompted survivors and relatives to forfeit demanding their rights.
‘Abd al-Masīh also said Kyrillos had “wasted a lot of church money” on paying for the fees, plane tickets, and hotel bills of lawyers who were creating a “media show.”
Būlus Ramzī, described as a Coptic thinker, is quoted as saying that Bishop Kyrillos is “a man who has lost credibility, because all his statements change and are shaky.”
Meanwhile, according to al-Misrī al-Yawm on Friday, Endowments Minister Mahmūd Hamdī Zaqzūq says the decision to execute al-Kamūnī “relieves Muslims before it does Christians and was in accordance with Qur’ānic texts.”
