Egypt’s main Coptic Church decided on Thursday to suspend holding any conferences and organizing the church-sponsored trips to monasteries, Coptic Orthodox Church Head Bolus Hailm said. “Due to security concerns raised among churches’ officials against any gatherings of Copts in Egypt, the churches affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church consulted the main church to coordinate with the Interior Ministry to undertake any action,” he explained. He further asserted that the Interior Ministry did not send any instructions obligating churches to suspend their activities. The Coptic churches’ decision came following nearly three months of deadly suicide bomb attacks that targeted churches in Tanta and Alexandria, killing 45 people. The IS-affiliated group ‘Sinai Province’ in North Sinai has released numerous warnings and threats against Copts in Egypt, including threats to bomb churches.

Source: Egypt Independent July 13, 2017 15:11 UTC