CAIRO, Feb. 7, 01 (CWNews.com) - An Egyptian Coptic Christian bishop said on Monday that the acquittal of Muslims accused of murdering Christians last year sends a message that Muslims are now «encouraged to kill Christians.»
Bishop Wissa of Balyana, which includes the town of el-Kusheh where Muslim-Christian clashes in January 2000 left 21 people-- most of them Christians-- dead, said: «All the murderers were acquitted. That means Muslims are encouraged to kill Christians. They are being told 'Go ahead. Kill Coptic Christians.'»
A court in the southern city of Sohag sentenced four Muslims to prison for between one year and 10 years, and acquitted 92 others over the massacre. None of the defendants were convicted of the strongest charge, murder, which carried the death penalty.
«This verdict means that Christians cannot live in safety. It also means that there is no justice or law,» the bishop said. He said he «expected new massacres of Christians because this verdict means that the life of Christians has no value.»
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
7. februar 2001