A crowd of around 300 Muslims attacked, ransacked and set on fire the homes of seven Christian families near Abu Qurqas, Minya province, on 20 May.
Souad Thabet (70), a Christian, was dragged from her home, stripped of her clothes by the mob and made to walk naked in the streets. The incident was provoked by rumours that Souad Thabet's son had been romantically involved with a Muslim woman, but she denies that this happened. A local Muslim family took her in, gave her clothes and hid her until her Christian nextdoor neighbours came to take her home.
Unacceptable
Egypt's President al-Sisi later released a statement calling the attacks ‘unacceptable’ and said that none of those responsible will ‘escape without justice’. He also ordered the Egyptian military to repair the homes within a month and at no cost to the owners. The police have so far arrested 14 people suspected to have been involved in the attack.
