They said other religious rights activists from America, Europe, Egypt and other the Middle Eastern nations would also participate in the demonstration, due to be held Wednesday, July 16 at noon to 1600 hours Washington time.
The Copts of Egypt are one of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East, numbering some 15 percent of Egypt’s population of 80 million, according to church estimates.
However, "not a month passes by without their churches, homes and businesses being attacked," the groups said in a statement monitored by BosNewsLife. The Ibn Khaldoun Research Center in Cairo reportedly said over 240 major attacks against the Copts took place during the period from 1972- 2003.
MORE ATTACKS
Among recent attacks, cited by Christian rights investigators was an attack by "extremists" on a Christian run jewelry store, which killed four Copts. The militants reportedly also attacked Abu Fana Coptic monastery injuring monks and kidnapping three. "The abducted monks were tortured, while they were ordered to announce abandoning their Christian faith and embracing Islam."
In the Fayoum area, Muslim militants allegedly also attacked homes and businesses owned by Coptic Christians. "A Coptic Christian man was killed by Muslims in the town of Dafash, governorate of Minia, in the southern part of Egypt," the Coptic groups said.
Magdy Khalil, a writer and researcher, estimates that as a result of these attacks more than 4,000 Copts were killed or injured, the groups said. "This adds to damages to Coptic properties that could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, during the last three decades alone." In addition, "hundreds" of Coptic girls are abducted and forced to embrace Islam "while security forces act as accomplices and helpers of the criminals," the groups said.
GOVERNMENT INVOLVED?
While it was difficult to confirm that figure independently, BosNewsLife and other Christian media have consistently monitored reports of kidnappings.
The groups claimed the government and militants were involved in these and other "incidents of persecution, discrimination and marginalization inflicted on Coptic Christians in Egypt." They said they hopes next week’s demonstration will "send a message to the Egyptian government to stop persecuting the Copts and take responsibility in providing adequate protection for them.
The Egyptian government has denied human rights abuses, saying it mainly fights religious extremism. However churches say active Christians are increasingly becoming targets of Islamic militants cooperating with local authorities and police in the predominantly Muslim nation.
