Muslims attack Christians accused of building churc

[Crvena zvezda]

FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
Muslims attack Christians accused of building church
Inflammatory Islamic sermon triggers fires at homes, shops

Posted: May 14, 2007
12:11 p.m. Eastern



By Aaron Klein
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Muslims in Egypt this weekend attacked local Christians and set fire to their shops and homes after the Christian community was accused of attempting to build a church.
The riots broke out Friday in the village of Behma, about 50 miles south of Cairo, reportedly after a Muslim sermon at a nearby village mosque accused the town's Coptic Christian population of planning to construct a church without a permit. The Christians said the sermon was meant to stir violence.
The Egyptian government heavily restricts the construction or enlargement of churches, requiring permits for any Christian building.
The riots this weekend reportedly saw Muslim gangs of more than 500 clash with about 200 Christians. At least 27 Christian-owned houses and shops were damaged by fire, including 10 homes that were completely gutted. Muslims reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at some Christian homes. Sixty-nine Christians were injured, some gravely.
A spokesman for Egypt's interior ministry confirmed around 500 Muslims had gathered in Behma after Friday prayers and that the entrances to three Christian homes had been set on fire. According to a Muslim reporter who was on the scene for a top Egyptian daily, Egyptian police forces did not immediately step in to stop the violence.