Posted on 10/21/2005 4:09:12 PM PDT by mdittmar
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt -- Thousands of Muslims rioted outside a Coptic Christian church Friday to denounce a play deemed offensive to Islam, prompting police to beat protesters and fire tear gas into the crowd, officials said. One person died and more than 90 were injured.
Police said 53 protesters were arrested as people hurled stones, smashed windows and tried to storm St. George Church. Protesters also set a police car on fire and wrecked eight other cars, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
A photographer for The Associated Press saw police fire rubber bullets into the crowd, causing injuries. Police claimed officers only fired rubber bullets into the air while trying to disperse the crowd.
One protester, Mohammed Zakaraya Hassan, 48, died of circulatory collapse after being trampled and inhaling tear gas, according to a police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The Interior Ministry described the protesters as "fanatic elements" who "escalated a negative reaction to a play." The ministry said about 5,000 Muslims marched to the church after Friday noon prayers at mosques.
"The police tried to prevent (the demonstrators) from approaching the church and attacking it, but the protesters did not heed the warnings and started to hurl stones at the church, security forces and pedestrians," the ministry said.
The riot was sparked by the distribution of a DVD of a play that was performed at the church two years ago. The play, "I Was Blind But Now I Can See," tells the story of a young Christian who converts to Islam and becomes disillusioned.
The church's director, Father Augustinous, said it was difficult to explain the reaction to a one-time performance that took place two years ago.
"There are so many questions on what is behind all of that," he told AP in a telephone interview.
He denied the play was offensive to Islam because its Christian hero is ultimately saved by a Muslim friend.
Egyptian security officials accused Islamic militants of distributing the DVDs to stoke sectarian tensions ahead of legislative elections Nov. 9.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest Islamic group, denied any involvement in Friday's demonstration.
Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 70 million people, who are overwhelmingly Muslim. Accusations of forced conversion are common in the country.
How surprised am I to hear it was after Fri prayers? NOT AT ALL! They were probably just obeying their clergy.
What's there to explain? EVERYTHING is offensive to Muslims...
For those who are not familiar with the Christian Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt
http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/
These people need to get a life. Something a bit more intense than sitting around coffee shops discussing the newest Christian outrage.
And take those Mullahs...Please...Fu dump!
Any breathing non-Muslim is offensive to Islam.
And if you dare dispute that, they'll kill you...
There's two words that are becoming synonymous.
obviously the clerics gave a rousing speach on peace and tollerance.
Animals......
Animals......
Yes, agreed! Psy Ops in order here!
We should be training anti-Muslim riot squads whose weapons include machinge guns that launch millions of rounds of
partially spoiled, cooked pork sausage.
Its hard to take these neanderthals as seriously as the International Press does. It is a mistake to give any Muslim center stage , or any stage, from which to broadcast
an alleged offence against the Muslim religion. I am religiously offended every day, but why don't I start a riot? Why don't I call the news papers? Simple. No one interferes with me physically or denies my rights as a citizen.
Take heed. These kind of riots will be in the USA soon if we allow Muslims an inch of the US stage on issues like this.
I know, I'll preach the Gospel, which is an offense in itself--and who knows, maybe some will listen and respond...
Just a few thousand lone nuts. Nothing to see here just move along...
History will repeat itself.
The only question is to degree.
Jimmy Dean machine gun
Anyone know the answer....class?
Prolly to a much higher degree. We're much more sissified now. And most will wait for the gov't to instruct them.
There's been a gradual, but inexorable, purge of Copts from Egypt, most of the violence being instigated by the Muslim Brothers, with the complicity of the state.
Islam-list
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