ECUMENICAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACKS ON COPTIC CHURCHES IN EGYPT

April, 9^th 2017, Lahore – Pakistan: Ecumenical Commission for Human Development (ECHD) condemns the heinous attacks on innocent worshipers in St George Coptic Church in Tanta and in front of St Mark´s church in Alexandria, Egypt.

According to media reports, at least 43 people were killed and more than 100 injured in two separate Palm Sunday attacks at Coptic Christian Churches in Egypt each carried out by ISIS terror group.

The first blast was happened at Saint George Church in Tanta, where at least 27 people were killed and 78 others wounded.  The state television footage showed the inside the church, where a large number of people gathered for Palm Sunday service.

A second explosion, caused by a suicide bomber who tried to storm Saint Mark’s Cathedral Church in Alexandria, at least 16 dead and 41 injured. The attack came just after the Pope Towadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria finished services, and aides told that he was unharmed.

At least three police officers were also killed in the Saint Mark Church attack, the official Interior ministry told to media.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks and vowing to step up attacks against Christians, describes as “infidels” empowering the West against Muslims.

Grand Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, head of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the leading center of learning in Sunni Islam, condemned the attacks, calling them a “despicable terrorist bombing that targeted the lives of innocents”.

James Rehmat, Executive Director of Ecumenical Commission for Human Development condemned this dastardly and inhuman attack exposes the real face of terrorism. Our heart goes out to the Coptic Christian families of Tanta and Alexandria, Egypt.

James Rehmat also added that we stand with the martyr families who lost their loved ones to share their pain and offer our deepest condolences.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development strongly demanded to the Egyptian government, to end this menace of terrorism and should take effective measures to prevent such an atrocity and increase security and safety of Coptic Christian in Egypt. 

Ecumenical Commission for human Development  is independent Christian advocacy,  humanitarian relief and development agency, dedicated to support religious minorities, where they are suffering discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faith in Pakistan.