Muslim mob in Egypt attacks Coptic priests, kills one man and injures others

A Muslim mob attacked Coptic Christians with knives and batons, killing one man and injuring three others on Sunday, July 17 in Tahna al-Gabal in Minya, Egypt.

The attack was reportedly sparked by a disagreement among Christian and Muslim children over who should be given priority to pass through a street.

The Muslim mob attacked the families of two Coptic priests, resulting in the death of 27-year-old Fam Khalaf, whose relation with the priests is not yet known. The violence also wounded the father of one of the priests and two other persons, including one woman, according to Fox News.

Police arrested four people suspected of being part of the attack.

Mourners met together for prayer the following day and protested the violence in their village, saying, "With blood and soul, we redeem the cross," as they made their way to the graveyard, according to the Associated Press.

Sunni Muslim leader Al-Azhar urged both Muslims and Christians to follow the rule of law and stop resorting to actions that "sow discord and ignite sectarian strife," Ahram Online reported.

He said the Family House, a group composed of both Christian and Muslim leaders that works to promote peace between the two camps, has been commissioned to look into the matter.

Egypt ranks only number 22 in Open Doors' World Watch List, which identifies countries where Christians are most persecuted. However, with Sunni Muslims dominating the population, Christians, which comprise only about 10 percent of the population, are highly persecuted by their Muslim neighbors.

Islamic extremism has driven Muslim mobs to attack the homes of Christians. Just one day before Khalaf was killed, Muslims burned the houses of Christians in Abu-Yacoub, another village in Minya governorate.

The violence was reportedly prompted by circulating rumors that a kindergarten facility would be converted into a church.

In May, another assault happened in Minya when a group of angry Muslims rushed into the house of a 70-year-old woman over a rumor that her son was having an affair with a Muslim woman.

The mob beat the elderly woman, stripped her of her clothes and forced her to walk along the street naked as they shouted insults at her. They also burned several houses belonging to Christians in the village.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi condemned the attack, promising justice to the victims and ordering the restoration of the burned houses without cost to the residents.