Date: May 13, 2011
Source: Associated Press
Egypt: woman behind sectarian violence detained

By Maggie Michael


CAIRO – A security official says the Christian woman whose affair with a Muslim sparked deadly sectarian clashes has been detained, facing charges including polygamy.
The official says Abeer Fakhri will be held 15 days for questioning. He spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to reporters. She converted to Islam escape a marriage to a Christian and became involved with a Muslim man.
When her family located her, she was taken to a building next to a church in the Cairo district of Imbaba. She has not been seen.


Her Muslim partner rallied ultraconservative Salafi Muslims, claiming a Muslim convert was abducted by the church, sparking clashes that left 15 dead and more than 200 injured.
Christians comprise 10 percent of Egypt's population of 80 million.