Christians Under Attack

Monk Aksios Ava Bishoy told activist Nader Shoukry of Freecopts the armed
forces stormed the main entrance gate to the monastery in the morning using five
tanks, armored vehicles and a bulldozer to demolish the fence built by the
monastery last month to protect themselves and the monastery from the
lawlessness which prevailed in Egypt during the January 25 Uprising.

"When we tried to address them, the army fired live bullets, wounding Father
Feltaows in the leg and Father Barnabas in the abdomen," said Monk Ava Bishoy.
"Six Coptic workers in the monastery were also injured, some with serious
injuries to the chest."

The injured were rushed to the nearby Sadat Hospital, the ones in serious
condition were transferred to the Anglo-Egyptian Hospital in Cairo.

Father Hemanot Ava Bishoy said the army fired live ammunition and RPGs
continuously for 30 minutes, which hit part of the ancient fence inside the
monastery. "The army was shocked to see the monks standing there praying 'Lord
have mercy' without running away. This is what really upset them," he said. "As
the soldiers were demolishing the gate and the fence they were chanting 'Allahu
Akbar' and 'Victory, Victory'."

He also added that the army prevented the monastery's car from taking the
injured to hospital.

The army also attacked the Monastery of St. Makarios of Alexandria in Wady
el-Rayan, Fayoum, 100 km from Cairo. It stormed the monastery and fired live
ammunition on the monks. Father Mina said that one monk was shot and more than
ten have injuries caused by being beaten with batons. The army demolished the
newly erected fence and one room from the actual monastery and confiscated
building materials. The monastery had also built a fence to protect itself after
January 25 and after being attacked by armed Arabs and robbers leading to the
injury of six monks, including one monk in critical condition who is still
hospitalized.

The army had given on February 21 an ultimatum to this monastery that if the
fence was not demolished within 48 hours by the monks, the army would remove it
themselves (AINA 2-23-2011).

The Egyptian Armed Forces issued a statement on their Facebook page denying
that any attack took place on St. Bishoy Monastery in Wady el-Natroun,
"Reflecting our belief in the freedom and chastity of places of worship of all
Egyptians." The statement went on to say that the army just demolished some
fences built on State property and that it has no intention of demolishing the
monastery itself (video
of army shooting at Monastery).

Father Hedra Ava Bishoy said they are in possession of whole carton of empty
bullet shells besides the people who are presently in hospital to prove
otherwise.

The army attack came after the monks built a fence for their protection after
the police guards left their posts and fled post the January 25th Uprising and
after being attacked by prisoners who were at large, having escaped from their
prisons during that period.

"We contacted state security and they said there was no police available for
protection," said Father Bemwa," So we called the Egyptian TV dozens of times to
appeal for help and then we were put in touch with the military personnel who
told us to protect ourselves until they reach us." He added that the monks have
built a low fence on the borders of one side of the monastery which is
vulnerable to attacks, on land which belongs to the monastery, with the monks
and monastery laborers keeping watch over it 24 hours a day.

The monks of St. Bishoy are now holding a sit-in in front of monastery in
protest against the abuse of the army by using live bullets against
civilians

Nearly 7000 Copts staged a peaceful rally in front of the Coptic Cathedral in
Cairo, where Pope Shenouda III was giving his weekly lecture (video),
after which they marched towards Tahrir Square to protest the armed forces
attacks on Coptic monasteries.

By Mary Abdelmassih