Egypt: Security forces abandoned Coptic Christians in Luxor to murderous mob - briefing

More than 100 Christian homes attacked by mob armed with metal bars, knives and hammers

Egyptian security forces stood by during a brutal attack on Coptic Christians in Luxor two days after Mohamed Morsi’s removal, Amnesty International said in a new 22-page briefing published today.

During the 18-hour-long attack on 5 July, the security forces left six besieged Coptic Christian men - four of whom were then killed and one hospitalised - to the mercy of an angry crowd.

An angry mob armed with metal bars, knives, tree branches and hammers attacked Christian homes and businesses in Nagah Hassan, 11 miles west of Luxor, after the dead body of a Muslim man was discovered near the homes of Christian families. Despite local residents’ and religious leaders’ repeated calls for help, security forces on the scene made only half-hearted attempts to end the violence and sufficient reinforcements failed to arrive.

The violence began at 3am, shortly after the Muslim man’s body was found in the vicinity of Christian homes. His family blamed the death on a local Coptic Christian and by mid-day more than 100 Christian homes had been attacked, with scores of them looted or torched. Local residents reported calling the police and army’s hotlines throughout the day in vain, and local religious leaders also approached security officials. “The attack went on for 18 hours, and there was not a door on which I did not knock: police, army, local leaders, the Central Security Forces, the Governorate. Nothing was done,” said Father Barsilious, a local priest from Dab’iya.

The security forces evacuated women and Children's rights trapped inside a house surrounded by an angry mob but left six men behind, apparently following demands from the crowd that the men remain. Four of the abandoned men were later stabbed and/or beaten to death and another required hospital treatment. Three other Christian men were hospitalised in separate violent incidents. One woman said she had begged police officers to save her sons who were left behind, but they ignored her pleas:

“I kissed the police officer’s hands and legs and begged him to protect my two sons and take them out … he completely ignored me and said he would only take women and Children's rights ... I buried my two sons in one day,” she said. Other female relatives said they had given men their abayas (gowns) to try to disguise them as women so that they could escape.

Investigations by the Luxor prosecution are said to be ongoing, with at least 18 men detained on charges of murder, attempted murder, destruction of property and “thuggery”, amid reports that some were also beaten by security forces upon arrest.

Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said:

“It is outrageous that this attack was left to escalate unhindered in this way.

“A thorough, impartial and independent investigation must be conducted into the events in Luxor and the grossly inadequate response of the security forces to the attack.

“The continued sectarian violence in Egypt is an irremovable stain on the record of successive governments which have repeatedly failed to end attacks on minorities.

“Immediate steps must be taken to ensure the safety of Coptic Christians and other minorities.

“The latest attacks will test the new Egyptian authorities’ political will and their ability to break the pattern of inaction and injustice once and for all.”

Discrimination against Coptic Christians has been prevalent in Egypt for decades. Under President Hosni Mubarak at least 15 major attacks on Copts occurred. Sectarian violence continued under the Supreme Council of Armed Forces and again following the election of President Mohamed Morsi. Meanwhile, at least six attacks on Coptic churches or buildings took place in the first half of this year.