Azhar Imam calls on Muslims to join Copts in celebrations

CAIRO – 29 December 2017: Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb strongly condemned the treacherous terrorist attack that targeted the church of Martyr Mina in Helwan on Friday.

Tayyeb reiterated that such terrorist attacks that target the Copts during their holidays are only aimed at disrupting the harmony of the nation with its Muslims and Copts and to threaten its unity, adding that sticking more to the spirit of love and unity between Muslims and Christian and affection is the only way to thwart these objectives.

“[I] call on all Egyptians to confront this malignant plot against our nation and to emphasize on such spirit through the participation of Muslims in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ with their Christian brothers,” he further added.

He concluded by extending his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and called upon God to grant them patience and solace.

This terrorist attack will not dampen our festive spirit, Patriarchal Vicar of the Coptic Catholic Church Father Hani Bakhoum said in a statement on Friday in condemnation of the accident.


On Friday morning, two gun-wielding militants opened fire at the Church of Great Martyr Mina during a drive-by shooting. One of the militants was fatally shot by the police guarding the Church of Great Martyr Mina in al-Maasara district in Helwan, while the second one managed to escape.

According to the Health Ministry, 10 citizens were killed and five others were injured and transferred to a nearby hospital for further treatment.