A family of Christians was thrown out of the southern Egyptian city of Zakaria because they could not pay a fine inflicted on them by Muslims in the area.

Initially, a Muslim family accused the Christian husband of the family of having an illegal relationship with a Muslim woman. Then Muslims attacked and looted Kirollos Sabet’s furniture and appliance store.

Local officials finally arrived and stopped the attack but Muslims continued to threaten Christians and throw rocks at the homes of Christians. The local officials then “fined” both the families involved in the alleged incident but since the Muslim woman’s family was too poor to pay they added her total to the Christian’s fine.

When the Sabet family complained about being forced to pay the fine of the Muslim, the entire family was forced out of the city. Muslim extremists in the city were calling for more violence against Christians in the region.