Christian Beheaded in Egypt; Church Leaders Call for Tighter Security to Protect Religious Minorities
The Diocese of Northern Sinai has condemned the murder of Christian citizen Magdi Lamie, whose body was found beheaded and tortured, next to the tombs of Sheikh Zowaid.
The Church has called for authorities to intensify security measures to protect Coptic Christians targeted by militants.
Father Mikhael Anton, priest of St. George Church in Arish, said Lamie, who lives in Sheikh Zowaid, was kidnapped last Saturday as he was returning home.
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The kidnappers asked for half a million Egyptian pounds ransom from his poor family, but they did not contact the family again. Lamie's body was found beheaded near tombs of Sheikh Zowaid.
The Coptic priest added that the body is now in the Arish morgue to conduct inspections and prove torture. He said they are waiting for the completion of procedures before holding the funeral prayer at the Virgin Mary Church in Dahya, Arish.
Fr. Anton condemned the state of lawlessness and failure to protect Copts, especially as the killing of the Coptic citizen comes a few days after killing Fr. Mina Abboud, priest of Virgin Mary Church in Arish.
It is noteworthy that most of the Coptic families in Rafah have migrated out of the city due to the threats they received from terrorist groups.
Gunmen killed Fr. Mina Abboud on Saturday in the Idari area in northern Sinai. They fired a number of shots at the car he was driving and injured him. He died shortly after he was transferred to a hospital in Arish.
