Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/egyptian-christias-and-muslims-help-each-other-during-turmoil
http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1kits3/muslims_protecting_a_christian_church_in_egypt/
http://www.nairaland.com/1401980/muslims-protecting-catholic-church-egypt
http://www.weyab.com/2013/08/muslim-men-protecting-catholic-church.html
http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1kits3/muslims_protecting_a_christian_church_in_egypt/
http://www.nairaland.com/1401980/muslims-protecting-catholic-church-egypt
http://www.weyab.com/2013/08/muslim-men-protecting-catholic-church.html
A young girl draws her reaction to Egyptian turmoil. (twitter)
A group of Muslims surround a Catholic church, protecting Christians during mass.
A group of Christians surround a group of Muslims as they pray.twitter
August 17, 2013
It is difficult to comprehend the death and bloodshed in Egypt’s civil unrest. With hundreds dying, and more than 23 churches destroyed in Cairo in under 24 hours. Multiple countries are pulling out their representatives and European leaders are meeting on Monday to determine what action should be taken.
The people clearly prefer peace. Images from August 15 and 16, 2013 show Christians protecting Muslims while they pray, and Muslims protecting Christian churches.
Twitter is full of cries for help, graphic images and video, and questions asking where is the U.N. in all of this?
There have been reports of military dressed as civilians, firing on protesters. Yesterday's clash killed 82 people. A (raw) video from August 16, 2013, shows protesters walking down the street amid gunfire. A young man raised both hands, but was still shot.
- One twitter statement said, “it’s not about religion, it is about humanity”.
- Another tweet said, “May Allah make it easy for the people of #Egypt and grant them a peace that does not compromise on justice or exist on oppression. Ameen.”
On Friday, August 16, 2013 approximately 1500 people were trapped inside the Al Fath mosque in Cairo, to be out of the streets during curfew. Among those inside were approximately 70 injured. They would only leave in the presence of human rights representatives, and the media, and hoped for safe passage once the curfew was over.
President Obama has stated that he is cancelling an upcoming visit. The Global Post reported that the U.S. provides 1.3 billion in aid, which is used to purchase weapons, military helicopters and jets from U.S. corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and others
- People were writing their names and phone numbers on their bodies in case they were killed, so family members could be notified.
- There have been more than 91 reports of rape in the last two days. These are the reported cases, which are usually a fraction of what really happens.
- A woman told Reuters that it is “better to die for my rights than in my bed. Guns don’t scare us anymore.” She explained that it is “not about the Brotherhood, it is about human rights.”
- Earlier it was reported that the military cut power to a building where there were babies in incubators, some of which did not survive. One of the protesters was in that building as his child died.
- On the May 15th bridge, protesters were trying to get away from sporadic gunfire that was coming from different buildings and aimed at those on the bridge. It was impossible to see who was shooting. As a result, some people were trying to get away by using a wire to get off of the bridge. Some jumped off of the bridge to escape gunfire. Others said that police were firing into the crowds from the rooftop of the police station. The scene was described as “horrific”.
Now the Muslim Brotherhood is calling for seven days of protesting until the coup ends.
What is certain is that many of these people are neighbors, and the killing and chaos needs to stop. Someone needs to step in with some reason and end this bloodshed.
