Liberals Strongly Condemn Attacks on Egyptian Coptic Christians, Call for End to Violence

October 25, 2013

OTTAWA AND MONTRÉAL– Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, made the following statement today on recent events in Egypt:
 
“The Liberal Party of Canada unequivocally condemns, and calls for an end to, the ongoing violence against the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt.
 
“The latest bloodshed, which includes the October 20th attack on the Al-Adra church in Cairo where at least five people were killed and 17 others were injured, is deeply concerning. All parties must do everything in their power to bring this brutality to an end. Furthermore, this situation demonstrates the need for democracy, where tolerance – particularly religious tolerance – is a fundamental value.
 
“On behalf of my party and caucus, I extend my heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims of this unacceptable violence. The Egyptian people deserve a better future than this.”
 
Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic, Marc Garneau, continued:
 
“The Liberal Party of Canada has been watching and monitoring the problem of violence and persecution of religious minorities in Egypt, as well as the more widespread violence across the country.
 
“It is our belief that the Egyptian government has a fundamental responsibility to protect all of its citizens from such attacks. All actors in Egypt, including the Muslim Brotherhood, need to realize that the path of violence will lead nowhere and must be abandoned.”