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An appeals court in June upheld the acquittal of 92 villagers charged with the murder of 21 Christians and one Muslim in the southern Egyptian village of al-Kosheh on January 2, 2000 (CT, May 2003, p. 28). Egyptian Christians responded with great disappointment. Coptic Orthodox Bishop Marcos investigated the tragedy on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Marcos said, "We are all certain these people did not commit suicide, but were brutally killed."

Egyptian observers blamed the police, not the courts, saying that judges can only rule based on evidence presented in court. "We know from our investigation that police officers told the population of al-Kosheh to change their witness," Marcos said. "A victim wounded by a bullet says he saw who killed eight Christians. The police later stated that this person was not in the area when the eight Christians were killed."

Youssef Sidhom, editor in chief of the Watani newspaper, agreed with Marcos. Sidhom said the belief that court rulings were based on falsified statements is widespread among Coptic Christians and human-rights activists in Egypt.

Sidhom believes al-Kosheh police have become party to a local conflict. In August 1998, two Christians died during an altercation over gambling. The local police responded by using torture while interrogating many Christians. A representative of the Ministry of Interior went to al-Kosheh to stop the harsh investigative methods.

Western activists then published several articles alleging persecution of Christians in Egypt. When the Egyptian press objected, police interrogated al-Kosheh's Christian leaders and arrested the secretary general of the Egyptian Organization of Human Rights, which reported the police abuse.

In this volatile atmosphere, clashes erupted on December 31, 1999, in which both Christians and Muslims destroyed property. The police sealed off the area but did not try to stop the violence. On the third day of the conflict, armed Muslims from surrounding villages entered al-Kosheh and left 21 Christians dead.

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More Christianity Today coverage of the Egyptian Christian murders include:

Muslims Convicted After 2000 Fatal Attack on Copts | But fearful Christians in Upper Egypt say many killers are still at large. (March 3, 2003)

Egypt Acquits All Muslim Murder Suspects | Judge blames Coptic clergy for inciting El-Kosheh hostilities. (Feb. 7, 2001)

Egypt Jails Christian for Three Years for 'Insulting Islam' | 'Extremely harsh judgement' for El-Kosheh Copt to be appealed. (Aug. 9, 2000)

Egyptian Security Police Threaten, Torture Local Christian | Coptic Orthodox layman targeted for alleged evangelism activities.(July 10, 2000)

Egyptian Court Convicts Christian Villager of Murder | Shaiboub Arsal Given Maximum 15-Year Sentence. (June 9, 2000)

Egyptian Priest Accused of Attempted Murder | Village cleric charged with 'provoking violence' in El-Kosheh (Feb. 11, 2000)

Egypt's Christians seek answers after deadly riots | At least 21 Christians killed in clash with Muslims (Jan. 13, 2000)

Church of the Martyrs | Copts thrive in the face of bloody carnage, legal restraint, and discrimination. (August 11, 1997)

Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom has a more detailed summary of the attack.

Other Christianity Today coverage of religious freedom in Egypt includes:

Ex-Muslims Harrassed in Egypt| Egyptian state security police arrested and tortured Christian converts (Dec. 16, 2003)

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September 2004, Vol. 48, No. 9