A priest from Auckland’s St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church says Egypt’s Christians have suffered enough.

Deadly clashes between Egypt’s military and Coptic Christian protesters, which saw 26 people slaughtered, is the worst violence since the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

Father Bishoy Mekhaiel says there have been many “incidents” of violence against Egyptian Christians over the last decade.

“At the beginning of this year, we as Coptic Orthodox people in Auckland protested during Christmas time, and all our church members protested against the killing of 23 people on New Year’s Eve. They went out from church and people with automatic guns killed 23 and injured over 200,” he said.

“What we’re asking for, to the people there and to the whole world is that we’ve suffered enough. We seek justice for those killed and injured — attacks that have happened in Coptic churches by Islamic extremists. We demand equal human rights”.

In a press conference last week, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces denied shooting at protesters and blamed them for the violence – claiming that soldiers’ weapons did not have live ammunition.

The Egyptian Government has vowed to thoroughly inspect all disputes over the construction of churches around the country.

Military rulers have since met with Cabinet officials to discuss the disputed permits for Christian houses of worship that are not yet formally recognised as churches.

Father Mekhaiel says Egyptian Christians are living in fear.

“Many of the people living there don’t dare to go out, because they are scared and fear they are going to be attacked. We’re trusting God and believe God is the one who protects us, no-one else. We also believe God will make the leaders of the world put pressure on the Government to make freedom and justice in Egypt”.

Coptic Christians represent around 10 per cent of Egypt’s 85 million people. According to the minority group, they are treated like second-rate citizens and want to see a change – which the Government has pledged to make within the coming weeks.

By Aaron Ironside