U.S. Copts Association

Cairo, (AKI) - Minority Coptic Christians have clashed with Muslims in southern Egypt, according to Christian MP Ibrahim Zanuni quoted by pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat. The violence erupted at a Muslim funeral on Tuesday in the Coptic majority village of al-Tayba in al-Maniya province after Muslims accused Copts of throwing stones at mourners praying at a funeral, Zanuni said.

Scuffles broke out between Muslims and Christians and police fired tear gas into the crowds, angering local Copts, according to Zanuni.Police arrested 40 people over the incident, but there are fears there may be more violence.

Coptic Christians in Egypt have been the target of periodic attacks by Muslim hardliners in recent years and al-Tayba has been the scene of a number of violent incidents including gunfights.

France’s Association of Copts held a demonstration in Paris, in June opposing what it alleges are “repeated and ferocious” attacks against members of the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt. Sixteen people were killed in attacks in May and June.

On 31 May, 60 armed Muslims attacked a Coptic monastery in Abufana assaulting dozens of monks and setting alight churches and surrounding buildings, the association reported.

Coptic Christians make up between six and 10 percent of Egypt’s 73 million people and comprise the largest Christian community in the Middle East…