Refaat and Ibrahim Fawzy Abdo, Egyptian Christian brothers falsely accused of murdering a Muslim, were sent to the El Wadi El Gadid Detention Camp on November 22 in an attempt to coerce them into confessing to the crime, according to a December 1 report from Compass Direct. Approximately 60 armed Muslims stormed the Abu Fana monastery in Mallawi, Upper Egypt on May 31 where the brothers worked as building contractors. A Muslim was killed, four Christians injured, and three monks briefly kidnapped in the attack. The brothers were subsequently charged with the murder even though they were not on the premises when the violence broke out. In the initial days of their detention, they were tortured with electric shocks eight hours a day for three days in an attempt to make them testify that the monks at the monastery were armed. Sources believe that authorities are using the brothers as leverage against the Coptic Church to make Christians confess that the attack on the monastery was not religiously motivated.
Pray that Refaat and Ibrahim will be released and that the false charges against them will be dropped. Ask God to strengthen and provide for their families.
Find out more about Egypt's suffering Christians at Egypt's Country Report.
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