Is it something in the Nile water? Egypt seems about as ready for democracy as Paleolithic cavemen as renewed religious violence hit Cairo. From the AP:
Hundreds of Christians and Muslims hurled stones at each other in downtown Cairo on Sunday, hours after Muslim mobs set fire to a church and a Christian-owned apartment building in a frenzy of violence that killed 12 people and injured more than 200.
The deepening religious violence in military-ruled Egypt is exacerbating the lawlessness and disorder of the country’s bumpy transition to democracy after three decades of autocratic rule under former President Hosni Mubarak was brought to an end in February.
Muslim youths attacked a large crowd of Coptic Christian protesters marching from the headquarters of Egypt’s general prosecutor to the state television building overlooking the Nile, said Christian activist Bishoy Tamri. TV images showed both sides furiously throwing stones, including one Christian who held a large wooden cross in one hand while flinging rocks with another.
Scores were injured, but an army unit securing the TV building did nothing to stop the violence, Tamri said.
Note the AP’s “even-handedness,” referencing a Christian throwing rocks to “balance” the murder and burning of churches by Muslims.
Perhaps what’s needed are Mubarak bumper stickers reading “Missing me yet?” Just kidding, of course, but the situation is grim.
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