• Copts
  • March 10, 2011
  • 4 minutes read

Unrest in the Wake of the Revolution

Unrest in the Wake of the Revolution

Weeks after protestors successfully ousted the Mubarak regime, thousands of Christians and Muslims clashed in Cairo with one Christian man killed and scores wounded. The trouble started when anger rose over the burning of a church.

This was the latest in a string of violent protests over a variety of topics as simmering unrest continues.

Coptic Christians held protests in several places around Cairo against perceived persecution by the country’s Muslim majority. A church was burned last week by a Muslim mob and Egypt ‘s military rulers have since pledged to rebuild the church. However, protesters say they want more steps to be taken in order to improve the status of Christians in Egypt .

Reacting to the burning of the church, about 2000 Christian protestors cut off a main road on the eastern side of the city, pelting motorists with rocks while another crowd of about 1000 people protested outside the TV building in downtown Cairo . Clashes broke out when they were confronted by Muslims.

Egypt’s uprising unleashed a torrent of discontent, and tensions have been growing between Christians and Muslims.

Elsewhere in Cairo , a protest turned violent as hundreds of Egyptian women demanded equal rights and an end to sexual harassment. The women were celebrating International Women’s Day, however, crowds of men heckled and shoved the demonstrators, telling them to go home where they belong. This event highlights the issue of women’s role in the political arena as Egypt enters its new democratic era, as well as the problem of widespread sexual harassment, where women are often afraid to report sexual assault or harassment fearing that they and their families will be stigmatized.