Muslims, Christian Copts in New Jersey Opt Out of Meeting

Muslims and Christian Copts scheduled to meet with State officials said they would skip a meeting aimed at resolving differences, following the murder of an Egyptian Christian family in New Jersey.

Leaders from both communities had scheduled a meeting on Monday with the state Division of Criminal Justice’s Office of Crimes and Community Relations.

Attorney General Peter Harvey said that it was important for the two groups to meet. “It’s important to set up contacts and linkages so that if an incident does occur in the future they can talk to each other,” said Harvey to the Associated Press.

A sticking point for Sohail Mohammed, a lawyer representing the American Muslim Union, was that the Muslim community wanted to speak directly with Harvey, not a committee of officials.

“If he’s not giving it the priority it deserves, then he’s making a mistake. If he is not going to be there, this is not something that’s going to be useful for us,” said Mohammed.

A United States spokesman for the Coptic Church and its leader Pope Shenouda said its group would also be absent because the meeting was arranged on too short notice for leaders to attend.

When Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife and two daughters were killed in January, friends speculated that Muslims were behind the crime.

Though two non-Mulsims were arrested for the murders, some Christians still believe that a hate crime was committed. Officials say that robbery was the motive.

Harvey said he has other priorities, like a massive counter terrorism drill that will simulate a biological attack in New Jersey next week.

“If I can stop by, I will,” said Harvey.

The two murder suspects, convicted drug dealers Edward McDonald, 25 and Hamilton Sanchez, 30, are being held on $10 million bail each.