Church hours after it held its first prayer.

U.S. Copts Association 116 Arlington Blvd. #155 Falls Church, VA 22042 703-930-0120 http://www.copts.com

Egyptian government official destroys a newly built Coptic Church hours after it held its first prayer.

Press Release 85 For more information contact Michael Meunier at 703-930-0120 or visit http://www.copts.com

Washington DC (12/19/2001)–U.S. Copts Association received credible information that on Sunday 12/16/2001, the head of AL-UBOR city, Egypt- a newly constructed city on the out streaks of Cairo- ordered his police forces and personally participated in destroying the only Church in the city just hours after the church opened its doors and held its first prayer meeting.

The Coptic Church had obtained all proper permissions from President Mubarak and the Egyptian government to construct a church in AL-UBOR city to serves thousands of Christian families in the area. After obtaining the permission, the church priest, Fr. Shenoudah, and the local Copts started to construct the church. On Saturday, 12/15/2001, the preliminary stage of the church building, which included a simple gate and a prayer room, was completed. The church held it first prayer meeting on Sunday 12/16/2001.

The head of the city of Al-UBOR, Mr. Galal Sayed Al-Ahl had been harassing and threatening the congregation during the building of the gate. Hours after the congregation finished its first prayer meeting, Mr. Galal Al-Ahl and his local police forces stormed the church arresting 10 members of the Coptic community and flattened what was built of the church. Mr. Galal Al-Ahl, who represents the Egyptian government and President Mubarak in the=

City of Al-UBOR, was well aware of the permission obtained by the Coptic Church from the president to build the Church and had no regard for it. Eyewitnesses report that they saw Mr. Galal Al-Ahl personally taking part in the church destruction.

This is not the first time President Mubarak has issued a permission to build a church only to be destroyed by local government officials. The Egyptian government has never held any of its Employees accountable for harassing or discriminating the Christians minority in Egypt. =93It seems that there is an unspoken deal between higher government officials and the local officials when it comes to church construction in Egypt. Under international scrutiny, the Egyptian government issues limited number of new permits for church construction, but it gives all incentives to its local officials to stop the construction=94 said Michael Meunier, President of U.S. Copts Association.

It is important to note that in all prior incidents when local officials destroyed churches, none of them have been punished and the Coptic community had to sustain the cost of rebuilding. We call on President Mubarak to open an investigation in this matter and to compensate the Coptic community in AL-UBOR.