2005 Alexandria riot

Violent Egyptian riot against distribution of controversial religious play recordings The 2005 Alexandria riot was an anti-Christian riot in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, resulting in several casualties. The riot was an escalation of already hightened tensions between Christians and Muslims in Egypt, especially in Alexandria, following the stabbing of a nun in the city by a Muslim man days prior and his subsequent arrest, which left the nun seriously injured. The riot began on the 21st of October when a group of Muslims staged a demonstration outside St. George's Coptic Church. Protestors gathered in an effort to stop the alleged distribution of a DVD recording of the playArchives L. A. Times 2005-10-22 Muslims Riot in Response to Play in Egypt https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-22-fg-egypt22-story.html 2026-04-07 Los Angeles Times en-US "I Once Was Blind But Now I See", which tells the story of a young Coptic Christian becoming intrigued by Islam, who later is nearly killed by Islamic militants.2005-10-22 Three killed in Egypt church riot http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4366232.stm BBC News 2026-04-07 en-GB The situation quickly deteriorated as multiple cars were set on fire, and stones were thrown at police and the church, damaging its exterior. Unrest continued until the following day, when riot police armed with shotguns were deployed to defend the church, and prevent protestors from storming the building.Slackman Michael 2005-10-23 Egyptian Police Guard Coptic Church Attacked by Muslims https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/world/africa/egyptian-police-guard-coptic-church-attacked-by-muslims.html 2026-04-07 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Only after the use of rubber bullets, and deployment of tear gas, which killed one protestor, did the protests subdue. Over 5,000 Muslims partook in the protests. According to the Interior Ministry, over 90 people were injured, and 3 people were killed. The riot was reported on by several international news organizations. Aftermath Egyptian government reaction The Egyptian Government condemned the protests, labeling the protestors as "fanatic elements" who "escalated a negative reaction to a play." Following the riot, the Interior Ministry dispatched thousands of police officers across Alexandria, to prevent further unrest or risk to public safety. Mohammed Sayyed Said, deputy director of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, attributed the violence of the protests to "rumours circulating on the Internet."2005-10-30 Anti-Christian riot in Alexandria reflects underlying tension https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/feature/2005/10/30/anti-christian-riot-alexandria-reflects-underlying-tension 2026-04-07 www.thenewhumanitarian.org en Said claimed that very few people had actually watched the recording of the controversial play. Said also claimed that religious divides and tensions were being exacerbated in a "conspiracy" to "cause divisions in the country." Local reaction The director of the church, Father Augustinous, said that "it was difficult" to "explain the reaction to a one-time-performance that took place two years ago."Violence erupts in Egypt over play https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/10/22/violence-erupts-in-egypt-over-play 2026-04-07 Al Jazeera en Local Muslim and Christian religious leaders expressed sadness over the violence that had taken place, and called for peaceful dialogue and conversation between people of different faiths. A Christian man studying history at the American University in Cairo anonymously attributed the violence partly to increasing American influence in the Middle East. A Christian candidate in Alexandria, running in that year's parliamentary elections, stepped down following the events. References 31.2161 29.9287 type:event_region:EG title Alexandria riot Alexandria riot Category:Copts in Alexandria Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2005 Category:Persecution of Copts Category:Anti-Christian riots Category:Religiously motivated violence in Egypt Category:Riots and civil disorder in Egypt Category:Terrorist incidents in Egypt in 2005 Category:October 2005 in Egypt Category:Attacks on churches in Egypt