The Australian Coptic Movement Association, in cooperation with the City of Sydney and NSW Police, have organised a rally to be held in Sydney to stand shoulder to shoulder with Egypt’s persecuted Copts.
AUSTRALIA’S COPTIC COMMUNITY TO PROTEST
STATE SPONSORED TERROR IN EGYPT
Australia’s Coptic-Egyptian community has been shaken by the escalating attacks on Coptic Christians throughout Egypt.
The Australian Coptic Movement Association (ACM) condemns the ongoing attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt. There are reports of ongoing attacks, deaths and injuries. It is with great sadness to confirm that the Egyptian security forces have been directly participating in the attacks themselves as clearly demonstrated on many privately owned Egyptian TV networks.
The events which unfolded began when thousands of Coptic mourners were attending St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo to participate in funeral prayers for the Copts who were massacred in the district of Khosous only 24 hours before. Upon leaving the Cathedral they immediately came under gun fire and many ran back to the Cathedral grounds for safety and shelter. The Cathedral which also contains the papal residency of Egypt’s Coptic Pope Tawadros II then came under sustained attacked by Egyptian security forces and armed gunmen.
Coptic Christians have been subject to mob violence and persecution for several decades however these attacks have escalated and now occur in almost every province of Egypt from Alexandria in the North to Aswan in South. Coptic Christians are being persecuted and the Egyptian state has failed to protect them.
Protests are being organised in cities worldwide in coming days including Sydney. Details are as follows:
WHEN: Sunday, 14th April 2013
WHERE: Top of Martin Place, Sydney CBD (in front of the Reserve Bank of Australia Building – off Macquarie St)
TIME: 1:30pm
A SPECIAL FUND HAS BEEN SET UP FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE KHOUSOS ATTACK TO ASSIST WITH ANY ASSOCIATED MEDICAL AND LEGAL COSTS. THESE ARE ALSO TAX DEDUCTIBLE. PLEASE ENSURE YOU INSERT ‘KHOUSOS’ IN THE DESCRIPTION.
For a pdf extract, please click Statement – State Sponsored Terror in Egypt
Coptic Persecution in the heartland of Civilization
