In "tolerant" and "moderate" Egypt, which, of course, reminds us of the famous quote from Obama's Cairo speech that "throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality." Egypt, Christian-owned homes, businesses, as well as churches looted, Christian students beaten up and stones hurled at them, girls verbally and physically abused. One man brutally killed, his body mutilated.

AINA -- Sectarian violence targeting Christian Coptic inhabitants of the Upper Egyptian town of Dairout, 313 kilometers south of Cairo, erupted on Saturday, October 24. Hundres of Muslims, mainly from Al-Azhar Institute in Dairout, and secondary school students chanted 'God is Great' while attacking and looting Christian-owned homes and businesses, as well as churches and the Coptic Orthodox Diocese building. They were demanding revenge from the Christian young man who "shamed the Muslims."

The frightened Coptic inhabitants called for police protection which arrived five hours later, when State Security enforcement arrived from Assuit, 50 km away. No fatalities were reported, but several were wounded by hurled stones and beatings of Coptic students as they left school. Approximately 100 Muslims were detained.

What prompted the first wave of violence in Dairout a week ago was an illicit sexual relationship between a Muslim girl, Hagger Hassouna, and the Christian Romany Farouk Attallah. A rumor that intimate photos of Ms. Hassouna together with her lover Romany were circulating on cell phones in Dairut lead the Hassona family to kill Romany's father, 61 year-old Farouk, on Sunday October 19, 2009, in the village market of Attaleen, after failing to locate his son, who had fled. After using over 140 bullets to kill him and wounding two of his relatives, his body was dragged in the street, accompanied by shouts of victory and blows directed to the dead body, commented Egyptian Al Akhbar Daily on 10/25/09. Free Copts website published a video of the disfigured body (warning, violent graphic content).

The second wave of violence in Dairout started on Saturday, October 24 at 11 AM after it was rumored that Romany Farouk Attallah would appear in court after being arrested and transferred from Alexandria. The Muslim mobs congregated around the police station only to learn that it was a false rumor. After hearing that the prosecution extended the detention of the Muslim killers, the mob went rampaging to different parts of town, but mostly to the Abu Bakr el Sediq Street and Abu Gabal area where Coptic businesses and pharmacies tend to center. They went into pharmacies, looted the drugs and confiscated whatever cash was available. Locked shops were broken into and looted, vehicles belonging to Copts were demolished. More... Hat tip: Eye On The World