Egypt: 17 people given death sentence for church attacks
Egypt: 17 people given death sentence for church attacks An Egyptian military court on Thursday sentenced seventeen people over their involvement in three church suicide bombings that claimed 80 lives. The court has also sentenced nineteen others to life imprisonment for the attacks. Also Read: Grieving Pakistani Christians mark Christmas days after IS attack In December 2016, ISIS claimed responsibility for Coptic Church attack that killed 25 people. Another attack in April 2017, ISIS claimed responsibility for attacks on Churches that killed more than 45 people. They targeted the minority group, Egypt Coptic Christians on their holy day i.e. Easter. Amnesty International, a human rights group criticized the attacks and verdict by called it, “utterly reprehensible and unfair military trial.” Amnesty's North Africa Campaigns Director, Najia Bounaim, said, “Those accused of involvement in these heinous crimes must be retried in a civilian court in proceedings that comply with international human rights law and fair trial standards.” Egypt’s Coptic Christians make 10% of the total population in Egypt. This is a minority group that faces a lot of discrimination, especially since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime in 2011. Also Read: Syrian troops reach outskirts of key rebel-held air base The homes of this minority group have been set on fire before. They have been physically attacked and have been looted. Very few people represent them in the Egypt government. -PTC NEWS
