Egypt’s Copts, targeted by gunmen Friday as they travelled in a bus to a monastery south of Cairo, are the Middle East’s largest Christian minority and one of the oldest.
Making up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 90 million, the Coptic Orthodox form the largest Christian denomination in the Muslim-majority country.
Here is a recap of their history, their status today and recent attacks against them.
The Copts trace their history to the dawn of Christianity, when Egypt was integrated into the Roman and later the Byzantine empire.
The word “Copt” comes from the same root as the word for “Egyptian” in ancient Greek.
The community’s decline started with the Arab invasions of the 7th century and the progressive Islamisation of the country, which today is largely Sunni Muslim.
Copts, represented in all social classes, are present across the whole country, with the strongest concentration in central and southern Egypt.
Poorly represented in government, Copts complain that they are sidelined from many posts in the justice system, universities and the police.
Egypt’s Copts have been the target of several deadly attacks since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak.
On January 1, 2011, more than 20 people died in the unclaimed bombing of a Coptic church in Egypt’s second city, Alexandria.
In May 2011, clashes between Muslims and Copts left 15 dead in the Cairo neighbourhood of Imbaba, where two churches were attacked.
That October, almost 30 people — mostly Copts — were killed after the army charged at a protest in Cairo to denounce the torching of a church in southern Egypt.
The July 2013 ouster of Mubarak’s elected Islamist successor Mohamed Morsi after just one year in power sparked further attacks against Christians.
Pro-Morsi Islamists accused the Copts of supporting his overthrow. The following weeks saw attacks against more than 40 churches across Egypt, according to Human Rights Watch.
In December last year, a suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group killed 29 worshippers during a Sunday mass in Cairo.
A spate of deadly jihadist-linked attacks in Egypt’s restive Sinai Peninsula in February prompted some Coptic families to flee their homes.
About 250 Christians took refuge in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya after IS released a video calling for attacks against the minority.
Suicide bombers on April 11 attacked two churches north of Cairo, killing 45 people, in the deadliest strike in living memory against the Copts.
On Friday, masked gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians on a visit to a monastery south of the Egyptian capital, killing at least 26 people, officials.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.