Three Coptic Christians – Amir Narouz Gabr, his brother Abanoub Narouz Gabr and Hanna Magdy Malak Shahat  – were seriously injured in a savage attack by four Muslim men armed with swords and machetes in the village of Ashrouba in the Beni Mazar district of Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt, about 250km south of Cairo.

A Coptic villager stated that there had been a tense atmosphere between Muslims and Christians in the village for some time. The attack occurred on 5 November two days after a dispute arose between a Copt and another local resident in a shop.

Two days later, the Copt was attacked by the four Muslim men and sustained injuries, and was subsequently taken to the local pharmacy for treatment. The attackers stormed into the pharmacy, assaulting everyone inside and seriously injuring Amir, Abanoub and Hanna. The injured men were later transferred to Minya University Hospital.

Abanoub suffered a deep cut to his right hand that damaged arteries and bones, as well as a stab wound to both the shoulder and leg. Specialists in orthopaedic and vascular surgery were called in because of the severity of the hand injury.

Amir sustained a similar severe cut to his hand, while Hanna sustained facial injuries and required ten stitches for treatment. Police arrested some of the attackers, and investigations are ongoing. The attack was captured in video footage that was shared online. Authorities have increased security measures in the village to prevent further violence.

Background

There was a previous sectarian attack in Ashrouba in January 2023 when a Muslim mob attacked Copts’ homes and looted their shops. The violence followed a fight between a Muslim tuk-tuk (rickshaw) driver who hit a car driven by a Copt.

After the attack, reconciliation talks were held between the Muslim and Christian communities – a common occurrence in Upper Egypt, designed to reduce tensions. However, Copts often complain that such talks are not genuine attempts at reconciliation as the Copts (who are generally the victims) are strongly pressurised to drop any charges against assailants (generally Muslims) in the interests of peaceful co-existence.

Ashrouba is divided into two sections, with the Christian population residing on one side, which has led to tensions and occasional violence. In previous talks Christians requested that a bakery and a school to be established on their side of the village to reduce friction with the Muslim population. However, these proposals were never implemented and the tensions continued.

The Christians in the village are particularly concerned for the safety of their children. All Christian students in the village attend schools located far from their homes in the Muslim-majority part of the village.

Ashrouba is home to an estimated 10,000 Copts and its male and female singers are known throughout the Coptic church. The small village has supplied more than fifty Muallims to serve the church throughout Egypt. A Muallim, literally a “teacher and master”, is the senior cantor (singer or chanter) in every church; he is responsible for leading the choir and for teaching Church music to the deacons, altar boys and congregation.

(Coptic Solidarity, Watani, Barnabas Aid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

Image: Watani