Coptic Christians in Upper Egypt Attacked, Beaten and Plundered

Coptic Christians in Upper Egypt are under attack, hours after a call for their eradication appeared in the form of leaflets calling on Muslims to kill Copts, specifically naming regions of Upper Egypt, International Christian Concern reports. In Al Gallaweya Village in Sohag, Copts have been beaten, their stores burned, and their houses robbed. The attackers have declared that "any Christian who dares to leave his house will be killed," and Christians say the police only arrive after the damage has been done. In Manfalut, a Muslim gang attacked the house of a Coptic Christian, threatening him to either pay a tribute or die, and also kidnapped the son of another Christian, not releasing him until his family paid a ransom. According to reports, the gang "picked this specific village because Copts form 80 percent of its inhabitants." After numerous calls for help and filing several reports in vain, the Christian villagers decided to demonstrate -- gathering before the local security directorate and demanding that police protect them, their children and houses from the gang.