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| An Egyptian man walks in front of a pharmacy marked with anti-Coptic and anti-coup graffiti in Assiut, Upper Egypt, on Tuesday. (Photo: Manu Brabo, AP) |
CAIRO (USA Today) – Stained glass windows generated a luminous glow inside a Coptic Christian church one recent morning as prayers were chanted in steady hums and incense wafted through the nave, soothing worshipers.
But the serenity only masked the unease here. Since the July 3 coup that ousted former president Mohamed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, Christians have faced a spike in violent attacks that Egyptian authorities have not prevented, rights groups allege.
"I'm very afraid, and I'm afraid for my daughter," said Mona Roshdy, 55, as she left the church with her family.
She had reason to be. On Wednesday, as the police in Cairo assaulted two protest camps of the Muslim Brotherhood's, Morsi supporters directed their anger at Christians.
Churches, houses, monasteries, orphanages, schools and businesses belonging to Copts were attacked in nine provinces "causing panic, losses and destruction for no reason and no crimes they committed except being Christians," the Maspero Youth Union, a Coptic activist group, said Thursday.
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