Head of the Egyptian Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III, said on Wednesday the Coptic community will not abandon those killed in the 24 November clashes with security forces in Omraneya over halted construction on a local church.
The violence left two Copts dead and scores injured.
“We’ll make every effort in this case," Shenouda said during his weekly address. "We’ll demand the rights of those victims.”
Copts frequently claim they suffer persecution at the behest of the government. Christians comprise an estimated 10 percent of Muslim-dominated Egypt.
