Egypt court gives 12 Christians life sentences

[DJKeefy]

An Egyptian court sentenced 12 Christians to life in prison and acquitted eight Muslims on Monday in a case set off by religious tensions in the country's south.

The Christians were found guilty of sowing public strife, the possession of illegal weapons and shooting dead two Muslims in April of last year in Minya province, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) south of Cairo.

The religious tension in Minya spilled over into violence last year when a Muslim microbus driver, angered by a speed bump outside a wealthy Christian man's villa, got into a scuffle with security guards who beat him.

After returning to his village of Abu Qurqas that evening, he rounded up the villagers who then gathered outside an ultraconservative Islamist group's main office there to protest his beating. According to rights researcher Ishak Ibrahim, the Christians nearby thought they were going to be attacked and shot from their rooftops down at the crowd, killing two and wounding two others.

For several days after, angry villagers torched dozens of Christian homes and stores.

The eight Muslims on trial in the same case had been charged with possession of illegal weapons and burning down the Christian-owned homes and stores after the shooting.

"The fact that the Muslims were acquitted means that the attorney general's investigation from the beginning was faulty and unfair because there was evidence to prove these men had burned Christian property," Ibrahim said.

The State Security Court, whose rulings cannot be appealed, handed down its sentence on Monday. The ruling military council is the only entity with the power to request a retrial.

Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's estimated 80 million people, complain that the courts and police often turn a blind eye to discrimination or violence against them. Some fear the surge of ultraconservative Islamists to power after Hosni Mubarak's overthrow last year could further curtail their rights.

Source: The Associated Press

[Grandad]

Rough Justice But will things ever change in Egypt... I doubt it.

We now wait to see who will be elected as President in the election that started today. That man, whoever he is, will have a significant bearing on how Egypt moves forward, for better or worse..

[LovelyLadyLux]

Talk about the start of a Brave New World. Life might stay totally the same or change dramatically for Egyptians. Has to see that it can really get much worse but ???

[Horus]

What are you all betting that in 12 months we are still talking about how nothing in Egypt has changed for the better?

[LovelyLadyLux]

IF IF IF Egypt goes the way of Saudi - well - am thinking the changes ARE going to impact all. Have not really ever heard of Saudi having any sort of ex-pat communities. Guess all I can say it that I'll be able to say I was fortunate enough to have explored Egypt when it was available to be seen and explored. I'm a bit apprehensive about the future of all the antiquities and their fate if the country goes super fundamentalist. Even the treasures that are in the U of Cairo are phenomenal.

[Horus]

I suppose there are ex pat communities in Saudi, but they tend to be business orientated and usually in enclaves and not so much the free living tourists as we see in Egypt.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Exactly H. Am sure there are some areas but women aren't driving cars in Saudi and freedom is pretty restricted. I can't fathom why any ex-pats would want to live there but am sure a few do. Am thinking with this next election it could bring some major changes to the ex-pat contingent and their present 'lifestyle' in Egypt. I don't quite believe the Saudis are nearly as tolerant of ex-pats enjoying an afternoon lager in a pub.............