Oct. 11, 2011
NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The death toll from attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt highlights the need for an impartial investigation by independent authorities, a rights group said.
Coptic Christians demonstrating against the burning of a church in Aswan province were fired on by Egyptian military police. Reports indicate at least 200 people were injured and Human Rights Watch said at least 17 were killed when they were run over by military vehicles.
The rights group called for a swift and transparent investigation into the weekend violence, including an examination into the role of military and police in the clashes that followed the demonstrations.
"Time and again since February, the Egyptian military has used excessive force in responding to protests," Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "The high death toll from the clashes on (Sunday) shows the urgent need for thorough investigations that lead to accountability and better protection for the Coptic community."
Stork's group said an independent panel should probe the violence because military authorities don't have a solid track record in examining past human rights abuses.
The ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces is facing growing frustrating with the pace at which it is ushering in new political reforms.
SCAF took control after Hosni Mubarak was forced to resign during the country's revolution in February. More than 20 people were killed in Alexandria when a Coptic Christian church was bombed New Year's Day.
Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/10/11/Probe-violence-against-Coptic-Christians-HRW-says/UPI-51681318354086/.
NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The death toll from attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt highlights the need for an impartial investigation by independent authorities, a rights group said.
Coptic Christians demonstrating against the burning of a church in Aswan province were fired on by Egyptian military police. Reports indicate at least 200 people were injured and Human Rights Watch said at least 17 were killed when they were run over by military vehicles.
The rights group called for a swift and transparent investigation into the weekend violence, including an examination into the role of military and police in the clashes that followed the demonstrations.
"Time and again since February, the Egyptian military has used excessive force in responding to protests," Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "The high death toll from the clashes on (Sunday) shows the urgent need for thorough investigations that lead to accountability and better protection for the Coptic community."
Stork's group said an independent panel should probe the violence because military authorities don't have a solid track record in examining past human rights abuses.
The ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces is facing growing frustrating with the pace at which it is ushering in new political reforms.
SCAF took control after Hosni Mubarak was forced to resign during the country's revolution in February. More than 20 people were killed in Alexandria when a Coptic Christian church was bombed New Year's Day.
Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/10/11/Probe-violence-against-Coptic-Christians-HRW-says/UPI-51681318354086/.
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