Fellow students at Assuit University mistook an ankh, ancient Egyptian life sign, for a cross which sparked widespread rumors that a girl had converted to Christianity. There was a disturbance in the dormitory and security were called, but the incident ended quickly. However, rumors spread in Assiut about conspiracies to Christianize Muslim girls through churches and Christian young men. The author investigated and sought the opinions of local Copts. There is a theory that this rumor was spread in order to trigger sectarian strife.