Jerusalem: Israeli forces assault priests at Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Security forces manhandle priest

Source: Ma'an News/Society of St Ives

Israeli forces and police assaulted several Coptic Orthodox priests in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, and forcefully detained one of them this morning (Wednesday).

Before the assault, the Coptic Orthodox Church had organised a peaceful protest near Deir al-Sultan Monastery, located on the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, against an Israeli decision denying the church the right to conduct needed renovation work inside the holy site.

Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers and police officers surrounded the priests who were protesting, before assaulting and pushing them with excessive use of force, causing them several injuries. They added that the Israeli police forcibly removed the priests and detained one of them, before allowing the Israeli municipality workers into the holy site.

To read on and see more pictures and a video of today's attack, see: www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781574