CAIRO, 12 May 2007 — Nine Egyptians were wounded yesterday when clashes broke out between Muslims and Christians south of Cairo, security sources said.
The violence, in the village of Bamha, about 25 km from the capital, was sparked by Muslim anger over plans to build an extension to a church on a disputed strip of land wedged between the church and a mosque.
Following Friday prayers, worshippers at the village’s main mosque began distributing leaflets that read: “We condemn the building of churches in our beautiful town.” The leaflet was found by a Coptic resident who summoned other Christians and headed for the mosque, another source said. There Copts and Muslims fought with stones, sticks and fireballs. At least nine people were injured. Rioters also burned down three houses.
Hundreds of security forces, which were sent to the scene, sealed off the village and made 15 arrests.
Similar clashes took place in the same village in February 2006, which saw the arrest of 32 residents.
In April 2006, a 78-year-old Coptic man was killed by a knife-wielding assailant who attacked three churches in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. Another person died in ensuing clashes between Muslims and Copts.
