As the death toll from the previous day's operation to clear Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan [8]) protest camps in Cairo was estimated as high as 600, Ikhwan supporters on Aug. 15 staged new marches in the capital, where a government building was set alight, as well as in Alexandria, where street clashes were reported. A governorate building was also torched in Giza, while seven soldiers were killed by unknown gunmen near El Arish in the Sinai peninsula. Ikhwan supporters also unleashed their rage on Coptic Christians, with several churches, homes, and Copt-owned businesses attacked throughout the country. Coptic rights group the Maspero Youth Union (MYU [9]) estimated that as many as 36 churches were "completely" devastated by fire across nine governorates, including Minya, Sohag and Assiut. Egyptians on Twitter used #EgyChurch [10] to crowd-source images and reports of attacks on churches. (Ahram Online [11], Ahram Online [12], Middle East Online [13], BBC News [14], Aug. 15; Al Jazeera [15], Aug. 12)
Please support our fund drive [16].
