Christians Under Attack

"The beating up of Coptic citizens are occurring daily in Egypt," the association said, adding that these attacks have been going on for years.

The association said it hoped Sunday's protest would raise awareness in France and other countries about the plight of Egypt's Coptic minority.

The association cited an incident on 31 May in which 60 armed Muslims allegedly attacked a Coptic monastery in Abufana assaulting dozens of monks and setting alight churches and surrounding buildings, as the Egyptian armed forces looked on.

"Three monks were abducted and tortured," the association stated. "This barbarous act is the latest in a series of acts of aggression against the Copts and their businesses."

The period between 26 May and 6 June saw a number of attacks against Christians, the association said.

Four people were murdered during an attack on a jewellers in Cairo. Twelve were killed and nine injured when a truck with no driver crashed into a bus that was transporting a group of Christians to Bani Yusef, south of Cairo, according to the association.

Knife-brandishing robbers also made off with jewels worth 18,000 euros from a Coptic jewellers in the northern port city of Alexandria, the association said.

"These actions violate human rights," the association stated.

"We appeal for respect for the rights of minorities and human dignity, because all Egyptians are equal in the eyes of the law and have the same right to practise their religion in freedom," it concluded.

Coptic Christians make up between six and 10 percent of Egypt's 73 million population and are the largest Christian community in the Middle East. They have been the target of periodic attacks by Muslim hardliners in recent years.

The Copts recognise the sole divine nature of Christ and unlike Roman Catholics do not recognise the doctrine of papal infallibility. They have their own leader, also called Pope, Shenouda III.

The Coptic Church's liturgy is similar to that of the Orthodox Church.

POSTED BY /adnkronos.com