Attack on Christians in Egypt indicates sponsored sectarianism: Iran

The picture shows aftermath of an attack on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in Minya Province, Egypt, on May 26, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Iran has denounced an armed attack on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, saying the criminal act was a clear example of sectarianism supported by certain powers.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Friday that the recent terrorist attacks in the British city of Manchester, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Egypt have all been carried out after US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia.  

"The unrelenting repetition of such incidents can be signs of the reanimation of the supported sectarianism whose other side we are witnessing in the ongoing crackdown and killing in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the bloody war in Yemen," he added.

He emphasized that the recent gathering of over 50 states in the Saudi capital Riyadh, held under the pretext of fighting extremism and terrorism, had in fact had no outcome but support for the source of the promotion of the Takfiri ideology of Wahhabism and financial and logistic aid for armed terrorism throughout the world.

It should not be expected that such a spectacle would help enhance security in the world, he said.

The Iranian spokesperson said supported extremism and sectarianism would directly result in the killing of innocent Muslims, Christians and followers of other religions.

Qassemi urged countries and international organizations to fulfill their international responsibilities vis-à-vis collective security and a genuine campaign against terrorism.

He also expressed his sympathy with the Egyptian government, nation and the bereaved families of the victims.

At least 28 people, including children, were killed and over two dozen others wounded after unknown gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians on a visit to a monastery south of Cairo on Friday.

According to Egypt's Interior Ministry, the assailants in three pick-up trucks attacked the bus as it carried visitors to the Saint Samuel monastery in Minya province, more than 200 kilometers from the capital.

The attack came after church bombings in December and April claimed by the Daesh group that killed dozens of Egypt's Coptic Christians. The Takfiri terrorists have threatened more attacks against the Arab country's Christian minority.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday's attack.