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Alexandria Copts Displacement Claims Dismissed; Freedom and Justice Party Participates in Popular Committees Protecting Christian Homes

Sources denied rumors reported about 54 Christian families of Nahda village (in the Egyptian seaport city of Alexandria) receiving threats to evacuate their homes on the background of a crisis that broke out between Muslims and Christians there, after the recent circulation of video footage showing scenes of an illicit relationship between a young Christian "tailor" and a Muslim woman of bad reputation.

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Sources denied rumors reported about 54 Christian families of Nahda village (in the Egyptian seaport city of Alexandria) receiving threats to evacuate their homes on the background of a crisis that broke out between Muslims and Christians there, after the recent circulation of video footage showing scenes of an illicit relationship between a young Christian "tailor" and a Muslim woman of bad reputation.

Ahmed Gad, Member of Parliament for the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), MP Ahmed Al-Sharif and MP Essam Hassanein sought to contain the crisis quickly. An FJP delegation visited the village to try and help resolve the crisis. The Governor of Alexandria also joined the delegation in the village, and delivered a speech to Nahda people, urging them to show restraint, stressing that necessary measures have been taken to control the crisis.

Furthermore, MP Ahmed Gad delivered a speech, stressing the depth of the relationship between Muslims and Christians in Egypt, pointing to the unity, solidarity and harmony highlighted in the January 25 (2011) Revolution, as well as in other crises that came to pass in Egyptian society. He called for calm, in order for the village to emerge from the crisis peacefully, safely. He also underscored the importance of the Egyptians being all one hand, especially in these difficult circumstances experienced by the country.

The delegation of Alexandria MPs reached an agreement with the village’s people regarding several points aimed at resolving the crisis, which include: the formation of popular committees to protect the homes of Christians; the formation of a committee of People’s Assembly MPs and a number of the village’s senior figures to discuss the problem in the appropriate legal framework, and bringing to justice the person or persons who breached the law – from both sides. That Committee has already been formed, comprising MPs Ahmed Gad, Ahmed Al-Sharif and Essam Hassanein.

For his part, the village chief and elder Ateyya Abu-Doma – popular committee leader in Nahda village – also denied reports of any intention to evict village Copts, pointing out that the village’s elders continue to hold urgent reconciliation meetings, so as to take all necessary measures and actions to resolve the problem.