Egyptian Islamists Burn Christian Shops

A mob of angry Islamists set fire to Christian-owned shops near the ancient city of Luxor in southern Egypt on Monday.

An Egyptian official said the mob threw gasoline bombs at shops in the village of el-Mahameed.

The attack happened hours before the trial of a young Coptic Christian facing blasphemy charges over of a series of Internet postings.

Blasphemy laws are often used as an excuse to persecute Christians in the Muslim world.

In August 2013, the Muslim Brotherhood led a series of attacks against Christian businesses, churches and homes, killing seven Copts and injuring hundreds more.

Egyptian Christians make up about 10 percent of the population.