Coptic Orthodox churches in Egypt and abroad are preparing for Coptic Christmas amid strict security measures following threats targeted at Coptic churches abroad and Coptic activists in Canada.
A source at the Coptic Church played down the possibility that the threats would be carried out.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said people will need to show their IDs and face inspections before being allowed to enter the churches.
Shenouda Younan, pastor of a Coptic church in Sweden, said he was forced to cancel mass for two weeks after receiving threats of terrorist attacks.
Meanwhile, Medhat Oweida, a Coptic activist in Canada, said the Canadian government treats Al-Qaeda threats seriously. “Copts are Canadian citizens and we will not allow them to be subject to any harm,” he quoted a Canada’s official spokesman as saying.
The Canadian Toronto Star newspaper said Al-Qaeda is targeting 200 Coptic expatriates of whom 100 are Canadians.
Coptic Pope Shenouda III fielded 43 bishops and priests to perform the Coptic Christmas mass in Canada, the United States and Europe on 7 and 19 January.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
