Press Release

ADL Stands in Solidarity With the Coptic Community Following Attacks; Denounces All Forms of Bigotry

Jerusalem, April 9, 2017 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stands in solidarity with the Coptic community and with Christians worldwide following the barbaric attacks on two Coptic churches in Egypt during Palm Sunday, resulting in the death of at least 36 people and wounding dozens more, according to media reports. The Islamic State has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, and Carole Nuriel, ADL Israel Director, issued the following statement:

The fact that today’s terrorist attacks took place during Palm Sunday and targeted Coptic Christians as they were conducting their service inside the churches, testifies to the inhuman barbarity of the terrorists. Indeed, the Coptic community in Egypt has been the target of repeated attacks over the years and is a persecuted minority in the country. And these cowardly attacks harm all the people of Egypt.

The need to address all forms of bigotry across the Middle East, including bias directed against Christians, was raised by ADL National Chair Marvin Nathan and Mr. Greenblatt during a recent meeting in Washington with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

ADL stands in solidarity with Egypt, particularly the Coptic community and with Christians worldwide in this difficult time.  We denounce all forms of bigotry and fanaticism and call on leaders to protect their religious and ethnic minorities.