Islamists torch Christian-owned shops in southern Egypt

Sunday, June 8, 2014

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

CAIRO, EGYPT (Worthy News)-- A mob of Islamists burned down several Christian-owned shops in southern Egypt near Luxor, according to Jewish and Israel News.

The arson happened just hours ahead of the trial of Kyrolous Shawky, a Christian in southern Egypt who has been charged with blasphemy and contempt of Islam for simply liking a Facebook page.

Despite the overthrow of Mohammad Morsi, Egyptian Christians are still being disproportionately targeted by blasphemy complaints from Muslims; nearly 40 percent of the defendants in blasphemy cases are Christians despite that they only constitute about 10 percent of Egypt's population.

Islamists are also abducting Christians for ransom, or conversion to Islam. Bishop Macarius of El-Minia said that since June there have been 90 kidnappings of Coptic Christians, some of whom were killed even after their families paid their ransom, according to Halim Meawad, the co-founder of Coptic Solidarity.

Last August, Muslim Brotherhood supporters attacked more than 200 churches, businesses and homes, killing at least seven Christians and injuring hundreds more.