Underlying Tensions Behind Egyptian Church Bombing Discussed

Spero News yesterday, analyzing the New Year's Eve bombing of the Coptic Church of the Saints in Alexandria, Egypt (see prior posting), says that some of the underlying tensions between Muslims and Christians in the country stem from a false story that has been circulating for four years regarding the supposed conversion of two women who were married to Coptic priests. According to the story, the two women had marital problems and converted to Islam in order to obtain a divorce (which traditionally is not permitted by the Coptic church), and are now being held against their will in monasteries. (See prior related posting.) Spero News says that while the women had marital problems, they never converted to Islam and were given refuge in monasteries out of fear of possible kidnapping by Islamists. The same story was cited by militants after the bombing of a Syrian Catholic Church in Iraq in November. (See prior posting.) Meanwhile, according To Ahram Online, the Shura Council, the upper house of Egypt's Parliament, spent Monday discussing the attack on the Church, with the parties split over whether blame for ignoring concerns of Copts, particularly regarding church construction, should be placed on the Mubarak government.