Egyptian sources said about 3,000 troops, equipped with firearms, tear
gas and batons, have been deployed in the Cairo neighborhood of Giza. So
far, the clashes between Christians and police have left at least one
Christian dead. The Christian was said to have been shot.
Another 30 people were reported injured and another 130 were arrested.
The clashes, including an assault by 2,000 Copts on a government
building, have continued for the last five days.
"Repeated police requests to cease violence were ignored by the
demonstrators, placing the safety of local residents at risk," the Interior
Ministry said. "At that point, security officials had no choice but to
control and disperse the gathering through the use of tear gas."
In mid-November, Egyptian authorities canceled a permit for the
construction of a church in Giza. Officials said the Christian community
violated a building permit by disguising a church as a Christian service
center.
"When we noticed indications that it was turning into a church, we told
the church authorities to stop construction because a church would require a
different licence," Giza Gov. Sayed Abdul Aziz said.
Human rights groups have asserted that the regime of President Hosni
Mubarak has intensified restrictions on the Coptic community. Copts, denied
most permits for church construction, were said to comprise about 10 percent
of Egypt's population.
In 2009, the Egyptian government said Christians were operating 2,000
churches around the country. Egypt is said to contain more than 93,000
mosques.