Security facilitates reconciliation between Muslims and Christians in Beni
Suef village
Christians were attacked over a rumour that a church was being constructed
without authorisation
Ahram Online , Saturday 23 Jul 2016
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/233868/Egypt/Politics-/Security-facilitates-reconciliation-between-Muslim.aspx

Beni Suef security directorate facilitated a reconciliation between
Muslims and Christians in a village in the Upper Egyptian governorate after
Christians were attacked there on Friday, Al-Ahram Arabic reported on
Saturday.

According to Al-Ahram Arabic, the security forces managed to control the
situation, which was caused by a rumour that a church was being constructed,
before it deteriorated.

On Friday, a group of Muslims in a small village in Beni Suef gathered after
noon prayers, and went to the houses owned by Christians attacking them by
rocks, after a rumour spread that one of the buildings had been turned into
a church.

A video clip showing Christian families reacting to the attack while
standing at their balconies went viral on Friday in Egypt.

The head of the local security directorate reportedly sat with the elders
from the village, both Muslims and Christians, and they agreed on
reconciliation and that the Christians would not turn a house into a church
unless they received official authorisation.

This is the most recent sectarian incident involving Muslims and Christians
in the past four weeks in Upper Egypt.

At least three clashes have erupted in different villages in Minya
governorate between Muslims and Christians recently.

Sectarian clashes frequently occur in the countryside over news or rumours
that an unauthorised church has been built or repurposed.

A draft unified law for building houses of worship is expected to be
discussed by the House of Representatives.

Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million and
constitute the Middle East's largest Christian community.