Salafist Attacks in Egypt Raise Spectre of Further Violence
Attacks by Salafists in Egypt are escalating as they did in Tunisia. Even more ominous, reports Mohannad Sabry for Al-Monitor, they aren't being met with resistance by the new government as they once were under the Mubarak regime.
CAIRO — Attacks by hard-line Salafist Muslims have raised concerns that Egypt may be in store for even more violence, similar to that witnessed this week in Tunisia.
Both Arab nations were ruled by ironfisted dictatorships for decades, led the Arab Spring and witnessed an unprecedented rise of Islamists to power.
In Upper Egypt’s Menya governorate, dozens of Salafists protested and forced the cancelation of a musical concert on Sunday, Oct. 28. The concert, “National Unity,” was organized by a local Egyptian band called Egypt’s Heart and sponsored by Menya’s governor and security chief — who were scheduled to attend if the state-owned events hall hadn’t been surrounded by furious, bearded Islamists.
Egypt’s Heart is composed of dozens of Muslim and Coptic Christian singers and musicians, and is known for incorporating religious hymns in their songs and advocating national unity.
