Anti-Christian sectarian violence has broken out in the Egyptian village of Nazlat Jalf, located in Upper Egypt's Minya province.
The issue began when suspicions spread online about a relationship between a young Christian man and a Muslim girl. A Muslim mob formed and began pelting Christian homes and properties with stones and burning things.
Although no deaths or injuries have been reported, some buildings and fields are thought to have been damaged. A lot of cyber threats were also issued against Christians.
The police intervened and apprehended some of the perpetrators. According to local sources, local authorities have organised a reconciliation gathering.
According to CSW, such sessions are a common response to Upper Egypt's frequent outbreaks of sectarian violence. The group has attacked them as "extra-legal mechanisms that impose ad hoc, unsatisfactory, and frequently unconstitutional conditions on victims." Typically, perpetrators of sectarian violence face little or no punishment from the state.
Concerns have recently been made that Egypt has began cracking down on unregistered religious groups, despite the Egyptian constitution's protection of religious freedom.
Visitors visiting Egypt, like Lizzie Francis Brink, legal counsel for global religious freedom at ADF International, have noted that anti-Christian persecution in Egypt is typically perpetrated by the Muslim majority populace rather than the state.
In response to the recent event, Scot Bower, CEO of CSW, stated, "Sectarian attacks are not simply assaults on innocent people; they also undermine the fundamental rights and human dignity that every citizen should have. CSW applauds the quick action of local police.
"However, in order to successfully handle the violence in Nazlat Jalf, Egyptian authorities must crack down on hate speech, sectarian incitement, and a culture of collective punishment for entire communities.
"They must also ensure that every citizen is treated equally, and that all perpetrators are held accountable under the law, regardless of their religion or belief."