Egyptian Government turns a blind eye again towards the attack on Abu Fana Monastery in El Minia
ICC Note
Failure to protect Abu Fana monastery by police is cited as reason for attack on the monastery.
Saturday, 12 January 2008 Egypt (The Free Copts)-This is not the first time where the monastery of Abou Fana has been the target of attacks. On Sunday, March 19th, 2006 Generl Said Uthman Ismael, Head of Mallawi city council, in the province of El Minia , Upper Egypt , gave 5 days ultimatum to Bishop Dimetrious of Mallawi to demolish the guest house located in the Apa Fana monastery or else face demolition by Egyptian security forces, the ultimatum was rejected at the time.
New Year's Day of 2008 witnessed the start of the recent attacks where Samir Louly, a former detainee who is also a member of the "Islamic Groups" accompanied by his son Abdullah fired rounds bullets in the air from their machine guns continuously for 2 hours at the monastery. When the police officer arrived, no charges were laid. Later, Louly was publicly boasting that he will use his weapons any time he wants and that nobody can stop him.
A week later, Louly and his son gathered a group of 20 armed Muslim men and attacked the monastery again firing directly at it to terrorize the monks living in it, who in turn informed the police immediately, instead of investigating the incident and arresting the terrorists, who are known to them, the police arrested 2 of the monastery monks and held them for investigation for 2 days.
