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Delivered amid tight security, the verdict was over in 15 minutes. Foreign journalists were barred from entering the court, guarded by riot police in full gear and plainclothes policemen on nearby rooftops.

News coverage of the February 5 verdict was minimal, buried in the back pages of the crime sections in major Egyptian dailies. The light sentences were "not altogether unexpected," the Associated Press reported, describing them as an apparent "attempt to avoid flaring further sectarian violence."

But Coptic Bishop Wissa of nearby Baliana village denounced the blanket acquittal of all the murder suspects as an open incitement to more killings and injustice.

"All the murderers were acquitted. That means Muslims are encouraged to kill Christians. They are being told, 'Go ahead. Kill Coptic Christians,'" the bishop told Agence France Press. "This verdict means that the life of Christians has no value."

The El-Kosheh massacre was Egypt's worst clash in 20 years between the country's predominantly Muslim citizens and Coptic Christians, who constitute at least 10 percent of the population. It was preceded by a controversial murder investigation in the same village 16 months earlier, when police were accused of mistreating and torturing 1,000 Coptic villagers to force confessions implicating a Christian as the culprit.

Copyright © 2001 Compass Direct.

The spiritual leader of the Coptic Christian church in Egypt, Pope Shenouda, has rejected court verdicts over Muslim-Christian clashes. Read more from the BBC report (Feb. 7.)

Other media coverage of the trial includes:

Massacre in Egypt: 4 jailed, 92 acquitted — Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan (Feb. 6, 2001)

Kosheh verdict signals Christian blood is cheap: Egyptian bishop — The Times of India (Feb. 6, 2001)

Four jailed for massacre of Christians in Egypt — The Times of India (Feb. 6, 2001)

Egyptian court clears 92 after religious clashes — The Telegraph, London (Feb. 6, 2001)

Egyptian Court Convicts Four — Associated Press (Feb. 5, 2001)

Religious violence suspects cleared — BBC (Feb. 5, 2001)

Christianity Today has extensive coverage of the riots and trial, including:

Egyptian Court Releases All 89 El-Kosheh Defendants | Muslim murder suspects all set free without bail. (Dec. 12, 2000)

Egypt Jails Christian for Three Years for 'Insulting Islam' | 'Extremely harsh judgment' for El-Kosheh Copt to be appealed. (Aug. 9, 2000)

Egyptian Security Police Threaten, Torture Local Christian | Coptic Orthodox layman targeted for alleged evangelism activities.(July 10, 2000)

Egyptian Court Convicts Christian Villager of Murder | Shaiboub Arsal Given Maximum 15-Year Sentence. (June 9, 2000)

Egyptian Priest Accused of Attempted Murder | Village cleric charged with 'provoking violence' in El-Kosheh (Feb. 11, 2000)

Egypt's Christians seek answers after deadly riots | At least 21 Christians killed in clash with Muslims (Jan. 13, 2000)

Church of the Martyrs | Copts thrive in the face of bloody carnage, legal restraint, and discrimination. (August 11, 1997)

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February (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45