The year 2011 was marked by an increased violence against Egypt 's Coptic Christian minority by Muslim radicals . The year began with the bombing of a Coptic church in Alexandria , which left 23 dead . Claims that Coptic Christian women who had converted to Islam have been kidnapped by Coptic authorities and held in churches or monasteries has exacerbated the tension . Such claims were adopted by an al-Qaeda-linked group in Iraq responsible for the 2010 Baghdad church attack on 31 October 2010 . The group , the Islamic State of Iraq , vowed further attacks against Christians until two Coptic women , who they allege converted to Islam and were being held against their will , were freed . On 29 April , some 2,000 Muslims protested outside the Coptic Church 's headquarters in Cairo , demanding the release of the two alleged imprisoned converts
bombing of a Coptic church
2011 Alexandria bombing
2011 Imbaba church attacks