2011 Alexandria bombing: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎Funeral: we can't call them "martyrs" unless in a quote
Line 191: Line 191:
The funeral of the victims was held in the [[Monastery of Saint Mina]], about 30&nbsp;km west of [[Alexandria]].<ref name="Elaph1">{{cite news|title=الهدوء يعود للإسكندرية وإجراءات أمنيّة مشددة على الكنائس|url=http://www.elaph.com/Web/news/2011/1/622047.html|accessdate=1 January 2011|newspaper=Elaph|date=1 January 2011}} (in Arabic)</ref> Between 5,000 and 10,000 people attended the funeral, all of whom adamantly rejected the condolences of president [[Hosni Mubarak]], shouting "No! No! No!" as bishop Youanis attempted to thank [[Mubarak]] for his condolences and his statement regarding the bombing.<ref name="Asia One"/><ref name="The Australian"/><ref name="Elaph1"/> They also expressed their anger with the governor of Alexandria who attended the funeral, shouting "Resign!" and "We don't want you!".<ref name="english.freecopts.net"/>
The funeral of the victims was held in the [[Monastery of Saint Mina]], about 30&nbsp;km west of [[Alexandria]].<ref name="Elaph1">{{cite news|title=الهدوء يعود للإسكندرية وإجراءات أمنيّة مشددة على الكنائس|url=http://www.elaph.com/Web/news/2011/1/622047.html|accessdate=1 January 2011|newspaper=Elaph|date=1 January 2011}} (in Arabic)</ref> Between 5,000 and 10,000 people attended the funeral, all of whom adamantly rejected the condolences of president [[Hosni Mubarak]], shouting "No! No! No!" as bishop Youanis attempted to thank [[Mubarak]] for his condolences and his statement regarding the bombing.<ref name="Asia One"/><ref name="The Australian"/><ref name="Elaph1"/> They also expressed their anger with the governor of Alexandria who attended the funeral, shouting "Resign!" and "We don't want you!".<ref name="english.freecopts.net"/>


In addition to Bishop Youanis, [[Pope Shenouda&nbsp;III]] delegated Archbishop Bakhomios to preside over the funeral of the Alexandria martyrs.<ref name="Ashraf Sadiq"/>
In addition to Bishop Youanis, [[Pope Shenouda&nbsp;III]] delegated Archbishop Bakhomios to preside over the funeral of those killed in Alexandria.<ref name="Ashraf Sadiq"/>


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 10:35, 3 January 2011

2011 Alexandria bombing
LocationAlexandria, Egypt
Coordinates31°15′17″N 29°59′37″E / 31.254825°N 29.993677°E / 31.254825; 29.993677
Date1 January 2011
00:20 local time (UTC+2)
TargetCoptic Christians
Attack type
Car bombing or suicide bomber
DeathsAt least 21
Injured97[1]

The Alexandria bombing was an attack on Coptic Christians carried out a few minutes into New Year's Day 2011, in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. At least 21 people died in the attacks, all of them Coptic Christians.[2] About 97 others were injured.[3] This was the worst violence against Egypt's Christian minority in a decade, since the Kosheh massacre in 2000 left 21 Copts dead.[4]

Background

Two weeks before the bombing, a statement on an Islamist website called for attacks on Egypt's churches, listing among them the one church that was hit.[5][6] The bombing occurred a few months after a group in Iraq with ties to Al Qaida announced that all Christians in the Middle East were now considered "legitimate targets" in response to (Kamilia Shehata and Wafaa Constantine) allegedly being held hostages by the Coptic Church. These women had allegedly converted to Islam from Christianity.[5][7][8] The Synod of Coptic priests in Alexandria described these allegations as "anti-Christian mobilization and lies."[9]

Hours before the explosion, Salafi Muslims held demonstrations in front of Alexandria's Kayed Gohar Mosque against the Coptic Orthodox Church and against Pope Shenouda III, repeating the Iraqi Al-Qaeda threats against Egypt's Coptic Church.[10]

Bombing

Part of a series of articles on the
Modern persecution
of Coptic Christians
Overview
Terrorist attacks
Figures

The attack occurred when a bomb detonated in a car parked in front of the Coptic Orthodox church of Saint Mark and Pope Peter at the Sidi Bishr neighborhood in Alexandria.[3][6][7] Later, an Interior Ministry statement on the official news agency declared that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber and not as a result of a car explosion.[3][7][11][12][13]

According to eyewitnesses, a green Škoda car pulled up outside the church shortly after midnight. Two men got out, one of them talked shortly on his mobile phone then left the scene. The explosion occurred almost immediately thereafter. The car carried a bumper sticker with the words "the rest is coming".[10]

At the time of the blast, several thousand Coptic Christians were attending liturgy at the church at the occasion of the new year.[3][6] The explosion resulted in scattered body parts, destroyed cars and smashed windows.[3][5] 21 Coptic Christians were killed immediately following the explosion, and about 97 people – most of whom were Christians – were injured.[1][3][6][7] The scattered body parts were covered with newspapers until they were brought inside the church after some Muslims started stepping on them and chanting Jihadi chants.[10]

Forensic testing confirmed that the explosive device used was homemade and contained nails and ball-bearings.[13] The Interior Ministry stated that the bomb was filled with small pieces of metal to serve as shrapnel,[14] and that a foreign-backed suicide bomber may have been responsible.[14]

Reactions

Coptic community

Many Copts saw the Egyptian state security as the real culprit behind the bombings.[10]

Following the bombing, several hundreds of Copts took to the streets in protest.[3] Furious Christians clashed with Egyptian police and Egyptian security forces.[3][15] Christians and Muslims pelted each other with rocks, and cars were torched.[5] After these overnight protests, more than 100 Christians protested the following morning near the church that was attacked, chanting "We sacrifice our souls and blood for the Holy Cross" and "O Mubarak, the heart of the Copts is on fire".[3][5] The Egyptian police reacted by firing rubber bullets and tear gas at the Christians.[3][4][10]

In Cairo, about 4,000 Christians and Muslims demonstrated against terrorism in the predominantly Christian neighborhood of Shubra.[16] The demonstration lasted for six hours and was joined by both government and opposition members of the Egyptian parliament and a number of political figures, including a former minister and Tomorrow Party leader Ayman Nour.

Thousands of Copts demonstrated at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo against the Alexandria bombings.[17][18][19]

Thousands of Copts also demonstrated at the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner in Cairo.[20] The demonstrators called for the resignation of the Egyptian government. They also chanted "With our souls and blood we redeem our Cross". They then clashed with the Egyptian security forces, resulting in injuries to 12 of the Coptic demonstrators.[18][19]

In addition, thousands of Coptic Christians demonstrated outside the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs and the state television buildings for two consecutive days.[18][19]

In the Upper Egyptian city of Mallawi, about 2,000 Copts demonstrated against the Alexandria bombings, expressing their will to die as martyrs.[21]

Pope Shenouda III strongly condemned the "criminal assault", blaming it on "forces that wish no good for Egypt".[22] The Pope also called upon the government to "speedily arrest and prosecute the perpetrator of this criminal act."[22] His personal secretary said the incident had "severely grieved us, because it is very alien to the love and harmony in which the nation lives".[23]

The top cleric in Alexandria, Archbishop Arweis, said that the Egyptian government and security forces wanted to blame the bombing on a suicide bomber instead of a car bomb in order to write off the crime as something carried on by a lone attacker.[3] He also denounced the lack of protection in front of the church, stating he was surprised to find only three soldiers and one officer guarding the church at such a sensitive time in spite of the recent numerous threats against Copts.[3]

The Synod of priests in Alexandria unanimously criticized the lax attitude of the Egyptian authorities towards the public expression of hatred against Coptic Christians.[9] In a statement issued by the Synod, the priests said that the attack on the church was "the result of anti-Christian mobilization and the lies recently propagated against the Coptic Church."[9]

Hany el-Gezeiry, one of the most prominent figures in the Coptic community, blamed the Egyptian security forces for turning a blind eye against the Salafi demonstrations in Alexandria, which took place on the day of the bombings.[10] "Security should know that those who demonstrated are the hand of Al-Qaida in Egypt. They should have arrested them to investigate who was behind them. They want to destroy Egypt from inside and the government kept quiet, giving them a free hand to do what they wanted. I believe Al-Qaida achieved what it wanted."[10] El-Gezeiry also commented on the schadenfreude expressed by Muslims following the bombings, as some of them were heard chanting Allah Akbar.[24]

On the Sunday following the bombings, Coptic parishioners at the bombed church of Saint Mark and Pope Peter expressed their anger and complained of the discrimination that Christians in Egypt are facing.[9] One of the parishioners declared "in this country, we cannot even pray in churches." Another blamed the "anti-Coptic" sentiments spread by the Islamic mosques. The priest of the church blamed "Islamic fanaticism" and "Islamic extremism".[9] He called upon the Egyptian government to ensure the rights of the Christians in "life, prayer and work".[9]

Domestic

The Egyptian government issued a statement immediately following the bombing blaming "foreign elements" for the planning and the execution of the bombing.[6][7]

President Hosni Mubarak promised in a televised address that terrorists would not destabilize Egypt or divide Christians and Muslims. He said the attack "carries evidence of the involvement of foreign fingers" and vowed to pursue the perpetrators.[3][7][25]

The governor of Alexandria, Adel Labib, accused Al Qaida of planning the bombing, without giving any further details.[5][26]

In a message to Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch Theodore II of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria strongly condemning the "brutal criminal attack" against a church "where prayers were being recited for the peace of Egypt, for the peace of those in power, and for the peace of the world."[27] Patriarch Theodore II also described the victims as "Martyrs of the Church".[27]

A spokesman for Al-Azhar University denounced the attack saying it targeted "Egyptian national unity." He also urged both Christians and Muslims to remain calm.[citation needed]

Both government and independent newspapers warned that civil war could break out in Egypt unless Muslims and Christians close ranks.[18][19] Newspapers also urged the Egyptian government to focus on the situation of the Copts, who often complain of discrimination.[18][19][28]

International community

Pope Benedict XVI of the Roman Catholic Church denounced the attacks in his New Year address.[5] He also appealed for religious freedom and religious tolerance in the Middle East, and urged world leaders to defend Christians against discrimination, abuse and religious intolerance which are today striking Christians in particular.[29]

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams condemned the bombing, declaring that "The New Year's Eve attack on Christians in Alexandria is yet another dreadful reminder of the pressure Christian minorities are under in the Middle East, echoing the atrocities we have seen in recent weeks", in reference to the attack on the church of Our Lady of Salvation in Iraq, carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq.[30]

  • United States U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the bombing, stating that: "The perpetrators of this attack were clearly targeting Christian worshipers, and have no respect for human life and dignity. They must be brought to justice for this barbaric and heinous act."[31][32] Obama also offered assistance to the Egyptian government in responding to the "terrible event."[31]
  • France French President Nicolas Sarkozy denounced the "blind and cowardly crime" against Christians in Egypt and expressed his "shock and great sadness". Sarkozy also called upon Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to "find and punish the perpetrators and sponsors of this indiscriminate and cowardly crime."[33][34]

On the day of the massacre, French Prime Minister François Fillon, who was vacationing in the Upper Egyptian city of Aswan, visited the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Aswan to pray for the souls of the victims, to express solidarity with the Coptic community and to express France's commitment to defending religious freedom in Egypt and the world.[18][19]

  • Italy In Rome, the Italian foreign ministry issued a statement "firmly condemning" the attack and confirming that Italy would "continue to make its voice heard to ensure the full protection of religious freedom in all the circumstances".[33]
  • Israel In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "great shock" and reaffirmed his conviction of "the need for a common front by all countries that believe in freedom in the face of terrorism".[33]

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal called on Christians to show courage in the face of the attack, declaring that "This latest massacre must lead us to reflect on our vocation as Christians in this region, which cannot be allowed to turn its back on the Cross".[29]

PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the attacks calling them a "work of the criminal and inhumane, which aims to destabilize security and stability in our sister country Egypt, and to cause tensions between Muslims and Christians".[33]

Hamas condemned the bombing in Alexandria, assigning the blame to hidden hands that do not wish well for Egypt and its Muslim and Christian people and seek to inflame sectarian strife. Hamas in its statement sent condolences to Egypt and the victims' families, and hoped that facts would be disclosed the soonest and that those responsible would be brought to justice.[36]

The attacks were also condemned by the United Kingdom,[37] Germany,[38] Iraq,[5] Syria,[39] Jordan,[40] Bahrain,[40] Kuwait,[40] the GCC,[40] Saudi Arabia,[40] Qatar,[41] and Iran.[33]

Funeral

The funeral of the victims was held in the Monastery of Saint Mina, about 30 km west of Alexandria.[22] Between 5,000 and 10,000 people attended the funeral, all of whom adamantly rejected the condolences of president Hosni Mubarak, shouting "No! No! No!" as bishop Youanis attempted to thank Mubarak for his condolences and his statement regarding the bombing.[18][19][22] They also expressed their anger with the governor of Alexandria who attended the funeral, shouting "Resign!" and "We don't want you!".[24]

In addition to Bishop Youanis, Pope Shenouda III delegated Archbishop Bakhomios to preside over the funeral of those killed in Alexandria.[23]

External links

  • Daragahi, Borzou (January 1, 2011). "Coptic church bombing in Egypt is latest assault on Mideast Christians". Los Angeles Times.
  • Hauslohner, Abigail (Jan 1, 2011). "Egypt Bombing Raises Fears of Growing Sectarian Bloodshed". Time (magazine).
  • Shahine, Alaa (Jan 1, 2011). "Egypt Detains 17 People After Bomb Kills 21 at Church, Al Jazeera Reports". Bloomberg.
  • Chick, Kristen (January 2, 2011). "Egypt's Christians pick up the pieces after deadly News Year's Eve church bombing". The Christian Science Monitor.
  • Shahine, Alaa (Jan 2, 2011). "Egyptian Christians Clash With Police in Cairo After Deadly Church Bombing". bloomberg.
  • Fahim, Kareem (January 2, 2011). "Egyptians Back at Services After Bomb". The New York Times.
  • HAUSLOHNER, Abigail (January 2, 2011). "Mourning in Alexandria: Egypt's Christians Worship and Worry". Time Magazine.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "الصحة: ارتفاع عدد ضحايا حادث الإسكندرية إلى 21 قتيلا و97 مصابا". Masrawy. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  2. ^ "أسماء ضحايا ومصابى حادث انفجار الإسكندرية". El Yom El Sabe. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Egypt bomb kills 21 at Alexandria Coptic church". BBC News Online. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Fatal Bomb Hits a Church in Egypt". The New York Times. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Saleh, Yasmine (1 January 2011). "Suspected suicide bomber kills 17 at Egypt church". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e Suspected suicide bomber kills 21 in attack on Egyptian church. By BILL ROGGIO. January 1, 2011
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Explosion kills at least 21 at Egyptian church". CNN. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  8. ^ Egypt death toll rises to 21. By Manar Ammar – Sun 2nd
  9. ^ a b c d e f "قداس احد حزين وغاضب في كنيسة القديسين في الاسكندرية". ahramOnline. 2 Jan 2011. Retrieved 2 Jan 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Egyptian Security Guards Withdrew One Hour Before Church Blast, Say Eyewitnesses". freecopts.net.
  11. ^ Batty, David (1 January 2011). "Egypt bomb kills new year churchgoers". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Suicide bomber kills 21 in Egypt". IndiaVoice. 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  13. ^ a b "Interior ministry: Suicide bomber behind Egypt church blast". CNN. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  14. ^ a b Chick, Kristen (January 1, 2011). "Egypt church bombing: Why some point to Al Qaeda-linked group". The Christian Science Monitor.
  15. ^ Deadly church blast sparks Christian rage in Egypt. Euronews. 01/01 17:34 CET
  16. ^ "أربعة آلاف مصري تظاهروا ضد الإرهاب في" شبرا"". Elaph. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011. (in Arabic)
  17. ^ "المتظاهرون من داخل الكاتدرائية يقطعون طريق رمسيس المتجه إلى العباسية". Copts United. 2 Jan 2011.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "Egypt minister pelted, fears of sectarian unrest". Asia One. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "Egypt Christians vent anger over bombing". Asia One. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  20. ^ "القمص "سمعان" يهديء من غضب متظاهرين بـ"المقطم" للتنديد بتفجير كنيسة القديسين". Copts United. 2 Jan 2011. Retrieved 2 Jan 2011.
  21. ^ "المظاهرات أمام مطرانية "ملوي" تقتصر على الشباب القبطي، والمتظاهرون يستعدون للاستشهاد". Copts United. 1 Jan 2011.
  22. ^ a b c d "الهدوء يعود للإسكندرية وإجراءات أمنيّة مشددة على الكنائس". Elaph. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011. (in Arabic)
  23. ^ a b Sadiq, Ashraf (1 Jan 2011). "Despite attack, Pope Shenouda will preside over Christmas Mass in Abbaseya cathedral". ahramOnline.
  24. ^ a b Egyptian Security Guards Withdrew One Hour Before Church Blast, Say Eyewitnesses
  25. ^ "Egypt's president calls for unity after church bombing". BBC News. 1 January 2011.
  26. ^ Michael, Maggie (2 January 2011). "Al-Qaeda linked to Egypt blast". Scotland on Sunday. p. 2.
  27. ^ a b "بطريرك الروم يعزى البابا شنودة فى ضحايا كنيسة القديسين". Free Copts. 2 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Egypt media warn of civil war after bombing". Agence France Presse. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  29. ^ a b "Pope leads condemnation of Egypt church attack". Vancouver Sun. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Car bomb in Egypt kills at least 17 outside Christian church". The Telegraph. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  31. ^ a b Obama condemns attacks, one 'clearly targeting Christians' By Bridget Johnson – 01/01/11 01:45 pm ET
  32. ^ Obama condemns deadly attacks in Egypt, Nigeria. The Daily Caller
  33. ^ a b c d e "أوباما يدين الاعتداءين الارهابيين في مصر ونيجيريا وردود فعل عربية وعالمية". Elaph. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  34. ^ "(Sarkozy) Attack in Egypt: "an indiscriminate and cowardly crime"". Elaph. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  35. ^ "Lebanese Leaders Condemn Alexandria Church Massacre". iLoubnan. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  36. ^ http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=219398 Hamas condemns Alexandria church bombing
  37. ^ http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2134996&Language=en UK denounces Alexandria bombing
  38. ^ "22 Tote bei Selbstmordattentat in Ägypten". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 2 January 2011. Bundesaußenminister Guido Westerwelle zeigte sich bestürzt über den Anschlag und erklärte: 'Ich verurteile diesen Akt der Brutalität gegen Menschen, die bei einer Messe friedlich das neue Jahr begehen wollten, auf das Schärfste' (lit.: Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle uttered his dismay about the attack and declared: 'I most strongly condemn this act of brutality against people who wanted to peacefully celebrate the new year with a mass').
  39. ^ R. al-Jazaeri / Zahra (Jan 01, 2011). "Syria Strongly Condemns Alexandria Terrorist Attack". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved Jan 01, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  40. ^ a b c d e http://www.qnaol.net/QNAEn/Foreign_News/Politics2/Pages/BahrainCondemnsAlexandriaBombing01012011.aspx
  41. ^ http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=407689&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56 Qatar condemns Alexandria bombing
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2011_Alexandria_bombing&oldid=405665392"