By Morgan Lee
Egyptian Coptic Christians have refused to retaliate or seek revenge, and have instead promoted peace and love, as they attempt to recover from attacks against them, as well as the vandalism and destruction of many of their churches and institutions in recent weeks.
“I say to the Islamists who attacked us that we are not afraid of their violence and their desire to exterminate the Copts,” said Botros Fahim Awad Hanna, the archbishop of Minya told Al-Arabiya.
“If we are not hitting back, it is not because we are afraid, but because we are sensible,” he said.
Over 60 churches, predominantly in the Egyptian cities of Minya and Assiut, have been attacked since Aug. 14, when the country’s military cracked down on Muslim Brotherhood supporters who were protesting the removal of former-President Mohammed Morsi.
Many of Morsi’s supporters had blamed Coptic Christians for the overthrow of the leader, using them as scapegoats to justify attacks that left four dead and dozens of buildings devastated, turned into rubble, or tagged with slurs degrading or mocking Christians.