Egyptian security forces, in early February, carried out a major operation to bust Muslim gangs that have been terrorising the Christian community in Assiut province.
They dismantled an organised crime network behind a campaign of kidnappings, robberies, attacks and extortion against local Christians. A bishop in Assiut said that the action marked a decisive change of police policy. ‘For months and months, [Christian] families and entire communities in Assiut and the province have lived in anguish. Kidnappings took place every day. The perpetrators of these crimes were known to all, but when they [Christians]… reported them to the security forces, nothing happened,’ said the bishop.
Morsi sympathisers?
Christian communities in Egypt came under unprecedented attacks following the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.
