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Coptic Orthodox Bishop Wissa in Southern Egypt has been accused of tampering with witnesses and Father Gabriel of al-Kosheh was charged with carrying a weapon during the riots. Both Bishop Wissa and Father Gabriel have denied the charges, which were dropped in an apparent effort to avoid escalation of the tensions.

Egyptian human-rights activists and church leaders do not blame the court but rather the police. Abu Se'ada accuses the police of "starting to collect evidence three days after the killings. Police reports were made that [seem to have] inaccurately reflected the plaintiffs' statements."

Mamdouh Nakhla, one of the lawyers defending the Christians of al-Kosheh, spoke of police negligence and complicity, accusing them of "withholding vital evidence during the trials."

Bishop Marcos of Shubra al-Kheima, one of the two bishops investigating the killings just days later, blames the police of Sohag for failing to provide the judge with sufficient evidence. "If policemen are not able to do a proper investigation, they should be fired. The Minister of Interior should accept the political responsibility for their failure and resign."

Relations between Muslims and Christians in al-Kosheh were peaceful until 1998, but have disintegrated because of how local Muslim and Christian leaders have dealt with some tensions. Those relations further deteriorated after the murders and the two court verdicts. Bishop Wissa fears the worst for the future. "If the perpetrators of the murders are allowed to walk free, it will be seen as a green light to kill Christians."

"The blood of people is crying," Bishop Marcos from Cairo says. "We don't know when the fire will flare up again." Many Christians from al-Kosheh are not taking chances. They are moving to Cairo, weakening the numerical strength of the remaining Christians.

Bishop Marcos and other church leaders say the poisoned relations in al-Kosheh have no effect on Muslim-Christian relations in other parts of the country.

"Relations are generally good," the bishop said. "The number of church buildings doubled between 1971 and today to approximately 1,500. In Cairo there were 100 church buildings added; 20 in Alexandria. In my diocese I have been able to build approximately one church per year in the past few years. We believe President Mubarak is the best leader we have known for centuries."

Muslim-Christian relations are strongly related to economic pressures in poverty-stricken areas, external influences such as "Christian America" threatening a war with Iraq, anti-Muslim statements in the West, and relations between Christian leaders and local authorities.

"A bishop needs to be wise, have patience, and have good relations with local authorities, including the security, members of parliament for the area, and other local leaders," Bishop Marcos said. Several bishops said Bishop Wissa has not been able to deal adequately with the local tensions because his own relations with local authorities are strained. They will not say who is responsible for those strained relations.

The governor of Sohag believes Bishop Wissa is "a firebrand" and praises Bishop Bachum in Sohag for his attitude. Bishop Bachum is able to get things done while Bishop Wissa's wishes are neglected. Christian leaders generally agree that having good relations with local authorities helps ease potential local tensions.

The judge will explain his decision in a written statement in the next few days. The prosecutor-general is expected to bring the decision before the court of Cassation, Egypt's highest regular court.

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March (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47