Egypt's President Calls for Three-Month State of Emergency

The death toll from the explosions at churches in two different cities in Egypt has reached at least 44. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt, announced in a live media speech shortly after the explosions that he is calling for a three-month state of emergency in the country. In two explosions on Sunday; one at the Coptic Christian church in the city of Tanta and the other in Alexandria, at least 44 people lost their lives and dozens more were injured. On the evening of April 20, the group known as 'Islamic State' announced that its members carried out these attacks. The President of Egypt is now calling for an increase in the number of soldiers and security forces around government buildings and sensitive sites, as well as churches. His plan to impose a state of emergency for three months must be approved by the Egyptian parliament. The explosion in Tanta, which is located 100 kilometers from Cairo, resulted in the deaths of 25 people and injured at least 78 others. The second explosion in Alexandria, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, was a suicide bombing, which also killed several police officers. The suicide bomber was attempting to reach the entrance of the church when the police ultimately prevented this. The church targeted in Alexandria is a historic site and a place where the Coptic Pope of Egypt attends. Christians make up 10 percent of Egypt's population. The recent explosions occurred just before the start of Easter celebrations, one of the most important religious ceremonies for Christians, which will take place on April 16 this year, just a week from now. Additionally, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, is scheduled to visit Egypt on April 28-29. Previous attacks and killings of civilians and minorities in Egypt by extremist groups have a history. In a bombing at a church in Alexandria during the New Year's Eve celebrations in 2011, at least 21 people were killed. Two years ago, ISIS released a video showing the beheading of 21 Coptic citizens of Egypt. Last December, a local branch of the group known as the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing at a church in Cairo that left nearly 30 dead. ISIS has also claimed responsibility for a series of murders against Christians in the Sinai Peninsula. Some media outlets, such as Reuters, report that the two attacks on Sunday in Tanta and Alexandria occurred while it seems that the group known as 'Islamic State' is increasing its threats against the Christian community in Egypt.