Directly after Friday prayers today, hundreds of Islamist demonstrators marched from the al-Erfani mosque in the Minya town of Mallawi crying: “There is no God but Allah; Ali Hussein is Allah’s beloved”. Security forces kept them from converging on the Mallawi bishopric, and finally dispersed them using tear gas
Directly after Friday prayers today, hundreds of Islamist demonstrators marched from the al-Erfani mosque in the Minya town of Mallawi crying: “There is no God but Allah; Ali Hussein is Allah’s beloved”. Security forces kept them from converging on the Mallawi bishopric, and finally dispersed them using tear gas.
Ali Hussein is the notorious serial killer of Minya, commonly known by the blood-curdling name of Holako, who has for some two years now—since the January 2011 Revolution and the subsequent security breakdown and empowerment of Islamists—been targeting the Copts of the villages of Minya, as easy prey. He has to his credit a long list of crimes against Copts: the murder of eight Copts, countless incidents of collecting tribute money from Copts, burning their fields and livestock, kidnapping their children, raping their women, and beating and maiming their men.
Holako, who was 34, was shot dead last week in a fight that erupted between his gang and the Copts of the Minya village of Ezbet Awlad Marzouq. Holako had kidnapped a woman from the Marzouq household, which drove the Marzouq men to go after him. They were met by a deluge of bullets; Ibrahim Marzouq, 60, and his son Ephraim Ibrahim Marzouq, 22 died; and Holako was fatally injured him.
The village was placed under heightened security for fear of the surviving members of the Holako gang and his family who vowed to avenge him.
Yesterday, fliers were distributed all over Mallawi calling upon Muslims to gather for a ‘press conference’ after Friday prayers, in which “the true character of Ali Hussein would be brought to light, to counter the false image of him propagated by the Copts, and to disclose the truth about the Coptic treachery against him”.
Under the title: “Muslim blood is dear”, the Copts were accused of having killed Hussein for no reason, after having collected money and amassed arms to do so. The authorities, the flier said, had rushed to stand by them since it was claimed they were a minority that needed protection, but the victimised Muslims were left without any protection. The Muslims were thus called upon to kill the Copts to avenge Hussein’s blood and vindicate themselves.
Two Coptic families in Badraman left their homes in fear, while others stayed on but sent their children away. Holy Mass in Mallawi churches ended early to allow the congregation to be home before the Muslim Friday prayers.
Watani International
19 October 2012
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