No Secterianism Suspected in Al Kusheh

Egypt's Prosecutor General has recently issued the commital order for suspects detained in relation to the incidents of violence in the Sohag villages of Al Kusheh and Dar as-Salam on December 31, 1999 and January 2, 2000 respectively.

In all, one hundred and thirty six suspects were detained; ninety-seven in Al Kusheh incidents; thirty nine in Dar as-Salam. All have been held under provisional detention.

Findings of investigations by the Public Prosecution are summed up as follows:

* Evidence given against suspects listed in the relegation order for rallying and for the ensuing crimes of manslaughter, attempted murder, looting, plundering and beating are confirmed by the statements of the victims and of the eye witnesses, proved by reports of the Forensic and Criminal Evidence Authorities and verified by police investigations.

* Firearms used in the disturbances are found to have been the ordinary kind usually used in similar incidents in that area.

* No suspect listed on the commital order is found to be a man of religion, an extremist or in any way politically-oriented.

* Suspects in Al Kusheh disturbances are all found to have been local residents of Al Kusheh; Dar as-Salam rioters are also found to have been residents of Dar as-Salam.

* Incidents of killing, plundering and looting are found to have taken place randomly on the spur of the moment; with no predetermination involved. Accordingly, some Muslims have been injured, and their property damaged by other Muslims; Christians by other Christians.

* The incidents of Dar as-Salam, on January 2nd, 2000, are found to have been a reaction to misleading rumors circulated about Al Kusheh disturbances.

* A great number of Al Kusheh and of Dar Es Salam Christians are found to have taken refuge with Muslim neighbors and villagers who, on their part, extended their hospitality until the situation was brought under control. Christians on their way to Al Kusheh, and straying into neighboring Balabish, a village with a Muslim majority, were guided safely back on course by Muslim residents of the said village.

* The incidents of Al Kusheh are found to have been sparked by a simple row between a trader and his customer over the sale of a piece of fabric.

The investigations have thus proved no suspicion of any kind of sectarianism to have existed but that the incidents were the result of the misguided behavior of a few on both sides.