EGYPT: Nuns paraded in the streets like “prisoners of war”

More from the Religion of Peace in Egypt.

From AP:

CAIRO (AP) — After torching a Franciscan school, Islamists paraded three nuns on the streets like “prisoners of war” before a Muslim woman offered them refuge. Two other women working at the school were sexually harassed and abused as they fought their way through a mob.

In the four days since security forces cleared two sit-in camps by supporters of Egypt’s ousted president, Islamists have attacked dozens of Coptic churches along with homes and businesses owned by the Christian minority. The campaign of intimidation appears to be a warning to Christians outside Cairo to stand down from political activism.

Christians have long suffered from discrimination and violence in Muslim majority Egypt, where they make up 10 percent of the population of 90 million. Attacks increased after the Islamists rose to power in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that drove Hosni Mubarak from power, emboldening extremists. But Christians have come further under fire since President Mohammed Morsi was ousted on July 3, sparking a wave of Islamist anger led by Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Nearly 40 churches have been looted and torched, while 23 others have been attacked and heavily damaged since Wednesday, when chaos erupted after Egypt’s military-backed interim administration moved in to clear two camps packed with protesters calling for Morsi’s reinstatement, killing scores of protesters and sparking deadly clashes nationwide.

One of the world’s oldest Christian communities has generally kept a low-profile, but has become more politically active since Mubarak was ousted and Christians sought to ensure fair treatment in the aftermath.

[…]

Sister Manal is the principal of the Franciscan school in Bani Suef. She was having breakfast with two visiting nuns when news broke of the clearance of the two sit-in camps by police, killing hundreds. In an ordeal that lasted about six hours, she, sisters Abeer and Demiana and a handful of school employees saw a mob break into the school through the wall and windows, loot its contents, knock off the cross on the street gate and replace it with a black banner resembling the flag of al-Qaida.

[…]

Sister Manal recalled being told a week earlier by the policeman father of one pupil that her school was targeted by hard-line Islamists convinced that it was giving an inappropriate education to Muslim children. She paid no attention, comfortable in the belief that a school that had an equal number of Muslim and Christian pupils could not be targeted by Muslim extremists. She was wrong.

[…]

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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6 Comments

  1. Pingback: Egypt Nuns Marched Thru Streets Like Prisoners of War - BigPulpit.com

  2. Jack Hughes says:

    WHEN oh Lord will you stop leaving your people defenseless? How long before you shield us, no wonder people don’t believe in you when you won’t protect your own

  3. Moro says:

    Everybody say the rosary daily if you don’t already. If you do, start going to daily mass. We will only hold firm if we are strengthened in prayer.

  4. cainech says:

    Matthew 5, 11: “Blessed are ye when they may reproach and persecute you, and say every wicked thing against you, lying, for my sake. 12Rejoice and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens; for thus have they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Pray with these valiant women for the already won victory of Christ to manifest in Egypt and this dark land. Pray for the grace of a well provided for death and for final perseverance. Watch for a renewal of the Faith, for a blossoming of the Root of Jesse. In your morning offering, unite with these and all persecuted Christians in the world.
    These factors in Islam must be extirpated and they will be by Blood and Faith. The gates of hell shall not prevail against Her.
    Maranantha!
    KMK

  5. Clinton R. says:

    And the LCWR think they have it rough? These poor nuns paraded around by these monsters suffer daily for Christ. Let us remember them and all Christians who are suffering in Egypt and all over the world. Let us pray for strength when we are put to the test.

  6. Stumbler but trying says:

    When I first read this story I was shocked that those people could stoop so low. Not at all surprised given their penchant for brutality and disrespect towards Christians. I am glad the woman came forward to offer the dear nuns safety and hopefully the teachers as well. I have been moved to tears for my sisters and brothers in the faith…it is too much to bear that they are suffering so and here we are in relative calm and comfort.
    I will be praying for them and will also try to fast in unity with them. I read on another site that the Syrian Christians, still caught in the war zones inside Syria, are beginning to suffer famine as food and water are being shut off to them. When I read that I just started crying.

    Lord Jesus! Please, for your name’s sake, save your people! Save your little ones from further harm and pain. To those of us who have much, render our hearts to unite ourselves to those in torn lands who are suffering for your name. May we not become complacent but remain vigilant so as to help our neighbor in need. Amen

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