The Coptic Evangelical Organisation for Social Services (CEOSS) in Minya has announced that it will be opening its Dahabiya Nile boat which docks on the Nile bank in Minya, Upper Egypt, on 23 April.
The boat, which serves the Minya community as a training and recreational centre, was burned by the Muslim Brothers (MB) on 14 August 2013, and left as a total ruin. That was in the wake of the 30 June 2013 massive revolution which led to the overthrow of the MB regime that had come to Egypt in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring. On 14 August 2013, the MB waged a nationwide attack against Copts, their homes, churches, property, and businesses; leaving four Copts dead and some 100 churches and church-owned institutions looted and burnt, in addition to countless personal losses. At the time, Egypt’s Armed Forces pledged to join the Church in repairing the damages and renovating the churches and schools. It has already handed the Church several renovated buildings and is proceeding with work on others.
The Dahabiya is 38m long and 6.5m wide and, according to Nasser Sadeq, director of local development at CEOSS, is worth EGP2.5 million.
Watani International
14 March 2016