Egyptian church attacked

Over the past few months we have seen a rise in violence against Christians in Iraq and Egypt.  The New York Times reports that a bomb detonated in Alexandria outside a Coptic church there killing 21, the worst violence that Egyptian Christians have faced so far.

Government officials quickly blamed foreign terrorists for the bombing and called for national unity. In a televised address hours after the bombing, President Hosni Mubarak said that the authorities had found evidence of “foreign fingers,” adding: “We are all in one trench. We will cut off the head of the snake, and confront terrorism and defeat it.”

Attacks on Iraqi Christians increase

A few days ago the pope of the Coptic Church weighed in on al Qaeda.  He said he does not fear al Qaeda, that they are not popular in Egypt and could not touch his church.  So far he has been correct, but in Iraq bombs have killed three and wounded twenty-five.  This New York Times article reports on the bombing, although it fails to tie in the verbal dispute that I feel is neccesay to contextualize the story.

Christians in the Middle East

Two contrasting perspectives on the plight of Christian populations in the Middle East.  The first comes from Austin Ivereigh, writing for the Guardian.  The second from Robert Fisk, contributing to the Independent.  Read and comment.