Coptic Girl Kidnapped

Laurence Wagih Emil Photo from Compass Direct (used by permission)

Laurence Wagih Emil (15) was traveling on a public bus in her hometown, El-Mahala el-Kobra on October 2 when she was drugged and kidnapped by four men. The young girl awoke in a dark room in a suburb of Cairo where she was beaten. During her captivity, her cell phone was used to send threatening text pages to her father, demanding that he leave the city with his family. The captors also threatened to rape Laurence and forcibly convert her to Islam.

On the evening of October 3, Laurence's kidnappers left to take part in the evening meal as part of Ramadan. While they were gone, she was able to escape and asked area residents to help contact her family. She was then taken to a local police station. Though Laurence's aunt and uncle came to the police station immediately, they were not allowed to see her while police questioned her for three hours. According to Laurence's testimony, during that time police forced her to sign a statement that she had voluntarily come to Cairo and spent the night at a friend's home. Otherwise, she would not see her family again. The girl's parents have made similar statements, saying, "My daughter is back unharmed. That's all that matters. We'll do what State Security asks us to do."

Praise God that Laurence is safely at home. Pray that there will be no further attacks. Pray that the family will be free from all fear (Revelation 2:10).  Pray that the family will exemplify the love and forgiveness of Christ, even in the face of such outspoken hatred (Matthew 5:43-48).

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Egypt, click here.