The bloody sectarian violence witnessed in Imbaba on Saturday was widely expected to trigger clashes between Muslims and Copts across the nation. Only a few days later, though, life has all but returned to normal in the rundown Giza neighbourhood, reflecting the apparent easing of sectarian tensions.

Copts and Muslims exchanged gunfire, Molotov cocktail and stones Saturday as two churches were set ablaze in Imbaba following rumours that a convert to Islam, Abeer Talaat, was being held captive in Mar Mina Church. The ensuing violence left 12 dead and 240 injured.

The next day, the whole district was in a state of disturbance; there were barely any Copts on the streets near Mar Mina Church while some Muslims told Ahram Online of their anger at Christians for “opening fire first.”

A march through Imbaba for national unity was held on Monday as Muslims and Copts walked side-by-side, waving Egyptian flags and chanting anti-sectarian slogans such as "Muslim and Copt, one hand."

“Copts keep stopping by to say ‘good morning’ and they are extremely friendly,” said Mahmoud El-Sagir, who owns a car parts store around 200 metres away from the church. “Most Muslims and Christians have no problems with each other. It’s the extremists who stir up unrest in the country.

“But after all the streets remain safe as Copts and Muslim are still coexisting harmoniously … Now we are in dire need of heightened security measures; the police must face the culprits with a much more strict approach to prevent such incidients,” the 50-year-old added.

Nader Nessim, a Copt who runs a nearby mobile accessories boutique, echoed the same sentiments. “Things are quite normal here, I don’t feel threatened at all,” he said. “I have many Muslim friends and our relationship has never been affected by anything.

“Those who attacked us [in Imbaba] mustn’t have taken part in the January 25 Revolution, where Muslims and Christians came together to change the whole country.”

Hundreds of Copts have being staging a sit-in outside the State Radio and Television building in Maspero since Sunday to voice their anger and sadness at the attacks against the two churches and Copts in Imbaba. Despite the high emotion, Nessim doesn’t expect Copts to turn to violence, even if there is another sectarian attack on a church.

“I don’t think the families of the injured or even killed will seek revenge. They will all let bygones be bygones,” he said. “If, God forbid, another church was attacked, Copts would protest peacefully like they are doing now, it will never turn into a civil war.”
 
This morning, Imbaba’s market streets were bustling with people, old men smoked shisha at spit-and-sawdust cafés while a host of microbuses and auto rickshaws (tuktuks) were roaming the streets as though nothing had happened. Everything was normal except for army soldiers blocking all streets leading to Mar Mina Church.
 
But tensions will escalate as fast as the situation was contained should more sectarian violence erupt, according to Yasser Medhat. An English teacher, Medhat is working with several Muslims and Copts to establish an assembly of people from both religions. “Security is very delicate now,” he says. “The march was great and things are quite normal for the time being, but another attack will get us back to point zero.”