19 February 2002: Egyptian Army Unit Attacks the Charity Isle of Patmos and St. John the Beloved Monastery of Nuns in Egypt

19 February 2002
Egyptian Army Unit
Attacks the Charity Isle of Patmos
& St. John the Beloved
Coptic Monastery of Nuns in Egypt

Similar Attacks Also Occurred in 1996/1997

Latest Report (Received 5 March 2002; Format: PDF)

A major attack on a Christian centre near Cairo, Egypt, took place on 19 February 2002 by elements of the Egyptian army (see photos below).

The Patmos Centre, some 30 kilometres east of Cairo, was attacked by soldiers on Tuesday who came with bulldozers, levelling some 25 metres of the perimeter wall and seizing and detaining an engineer working with centre for no clear reason. The attack comes some two weeks after a similar assault in which walls were also destroyed and trees outside the centre uprooted. At that time one teacher from the centre had his arm broken and several others were beaten when they tried to stop the destruction from going ahead. The centre itself has suffered structural damage in the attacks, with both concrete columns and limestone blocks having been damaged.

The Christian Patmos Centre has been serving the local community in Egypt for fourteen years. The centre is providing love, care and support for both mentally and physically handicapped children and orphans, and is legally registered with the Egyptian authorities. In stark contrast to the actions of elements of the military, police officers are standing with the local Christian community, and at least ten officers have now reportedly been posted at the centre, guarding it from further attacks. The centre faced earlier attacks in 1996, 1997 and last year. Local Christians are at a loss to explain the actions of the military.

19 February 2002: Egyptian Army Unit Attacks Patmos Land and St. John the Beloved Monastery of Nuns in Egypt (News Report in Arabic)
http://www.amcoptic.com/press/press_aca/press_2192002.htm
See also photos below.

19 February 2002: Egyptian Army Unit Attacks Patmos Land and St. John the Beloved Monastery of Nuns in Egypt (News Report in English)
http://www.copts.net/detail.asp?id=261
See also photos below.

About Patmos Land (Official Web Site - English)
http://www.ocrs-eg.org/

Soldiers in Egypt Destroy Christian Farm (1997)
http://www.churchnet.org.uk/news/files/news139.htm

Egyptian Soldiers Attack Christian Farm (1997)
http://www.churchnet.org.uk/news/files/news248.htm

Catholic World News: Egyptian Army Destroys Christian Charity (1997)
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewrec.cfm?RefNum=4151

19 February 2002: Egyptian Army Unit Attacks the Charity Isle of Patmos and St. John the Beloved Monastery of Nuns in Egypt

19 February 2002: Egyptian Army Unit Attacks the Charity Isle of Patmos and St. John the Beloved Monastery of Nuns in Egypt

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