At least 41 dead in a fire at a Coptic church in Cairo, according to an initial report

At least 41 people were killed in a church fire in Cairo (Egypt), Sunday, August 14, the Egyptian Coptic Church announced. in Facebook. The statement also indicated 14 injuries, quoting sources in the Ministry of Health. This fire broke out during a mass held in Abu Sefein Church in the popular neighborhood in Imbaba.

The prosecution opened an investigation and sent a team to the site to find out the causes of the fire. “The air conditioner in one of the classrooms on the second floor of the building where the church is located malfunctioned and released a large amount of smoke, which is the main cause of injuries and deaths”, explains the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry of Health sent dozens of ambulances to him. “I have mobilized all state agencies so that all measures are taken”President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi responded On his Facebook page. The latter spoke by phone with Pope Tawadros II, it is written On the presidency website (in English)And the “to express his condolences”.

In the sprawling metropolis of Greater Cairo, where millions of Egyptians live in informal settlements, accidental fires are not uncommon. In general, Egypt, which has a dilapidated and poorly maintained infrastructure, regularly suffers from deadly fires in its various governorates.

The Coptic Orthodox Church emerged more on the political scene, under the leadership of Tawadros II, an outspoken supporter of Hezbollah.Abdel Fattah Sisi. The latter is The first president of Egypt attends the Coptic Christmas mass every year, while his predecessors sent representatives. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi recently appointed a Coptic judge to head the Constitutional Court for the first time in history.

Egyptian Copts constitute the largest Christian community in the Arab world: they represent 10 to 15 people out of Egypt’s 103 million people. They consider themselves out of many positions and lament the very restrictive legislation for church building, and the more liberal for mosques. Coptic human rights activist Patrick Zaki recently spent 22 months in detention on charges of “spreading false information” over an article exposing violations of the rights of Christians in Egypt.

Copts have suffered from Islamist retaliation, particularly after the 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Then churches, schools and homes were burned.