Tags

Egypt

• Fate of Kidnapped Christians Unknown

  Passport photo of Bakhit Photo: Morning Star News

  Travelling to Libya to be a migrant worker is considered "a quest for the insane" because of the extreme danger involved, according to Ezz Tawfik, a Coptic journalist in Upper Egypt. Yet, in spite of the potential harm, crushing poverty in Egypt drives many, like Bakhit Nageh Efrank Ebeid, 21, to risk their lives in hopes of providing food for their families. That's why he set out from Kom Badar, Egypt, for Tripoli, Libya.

  Bakhit was travelling with two other Christians, Adeola Ibrahim of Nigeria and Sekyere Kofi Frimpong of Ghana, as well as a group of Muslims. His family last heard from him on July 10th. "He told them...that he is with a group and it would be safe," Ezz reports. Apparently, it was not the case, for that same day ISIS militants stopped the travellers in Sirte, Libya, and the three Christian men were taken captive.

  On July 17th, Libyan affiliates of the notorious terrorist group released evidence claiming the kidnapping of the three Christians. Conflicting rumours concerning the status of the abducted men continue to spread in the Egyptian media. In the midst of this, Bakhit's Coptic Christian family say they have turned to God, hoping that Bakhit is still alive. They attempted to contact him via his cell phone, but the call was intercepted by a member of ISIS who announced that the "infidel" was beheaded. During a subsequent call, the family learned that Bakhit was required to pay a ransom, convert to Islam, or be killed. They offered to pay but were not told an amount. Nothing is known concerning the other two Christians.

  The inhumane operations of ISIS in Libya have precipitated the kidnapping and killing of innocent Christians, as revealed in posted graphic videos. One depicts the gruesome beheadings of 21 men, consisting of 20 Egyptian Christians and a man from Ghana. (A VOMC report on the situation is available at this page.) Another reveals the killing of approximately 30 Ethiopian Christians thought to be migrant workers.

  Impoverished, uneducated, unemployed and engaged to be married, Bakhit's options were limited: travel to Libya, starve or become a thief. He took a chance in hopes of reaching the relative safety of Tripoli.

  Please pray for God's divine intervention and deliverance on behalf of Bakhit, Adeola and Sekyere, and for His comfort and peace to be upon their concerned loved ones. Additionally, ask the Lord to adequately provide for these impoverished families' needs. Meanwhile, may the authorities be granted wisdom as they stand against ISIS and strategize the rescue of the abducted men. Also, let us be mindful of the need to intercede for the members of the terrorist group, that their hearts be so dramatically transformed by Christ they become 'militant' in the reflection of His love, extension of His mercy, and bold proclamation of the Gospel!

• Christian Prisoner Endures Brutality

  Photo: Morning Star News

  It has recently been reported that Bishoy Armia Boulous (formerly known as Mohammed Hegazy) is now enduring an overextended prison sentence with frequent assault. According to Bishoy's present lawyer, Karam Ghobriel, jailers at Tora Prison have been beating Bishoy several times a week and ruthlessly dragging him across a concrete floor. These jailers have been humiliating Bishoy in an apparent attempt to pressure him to renounce his faith.

  When authorities were initially informed that Bishoy was trying to document Christian persecution, he was sentenced to imprisonment for "spreading false information" intended to "harm the public interest." While his one-year sentence for this charge had expired in December, he still remains in detention. (To view a previously taped video report on Bishoy's situation, click here.)

  Bishoy is also awaiting trial for a blasphemy charge in connection with his attempt to change the religious status of his ID card to Christian. His lawyer has filed a formal complaint about Bishoy's mistreatment and ongoing detention to Egypt's attorney general, Hasham Barakat.

  May the Spirit of God dwell richly in Bishoy, giving him great peace and hope throughout this brutal and humiliating ordeal, knowing that "the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). We pray that the jailers will see the light of Christ in Bishoy and, as a result, be responsive to God's invitation for salvation. Also intercede for the success of Bishoy's lawyer, Karam, as he contends in the courts on behalf of this young father's release.

• Convert Wins Partial Appeal, Yet Remains Imprisoned

  Bishoy Armia Boulous (formerly Mohammed Hegazy)

  A convert to Christianity who was sentenced to five years in prison for documenting attacks on believers has won a partial victory on appeal, but must remain in jail because of prior blasphemy charges.

  On December 28th, an appeals judge found 31-year-old Bishoy Armia Boulous (previously known as Mohammed Hegazy) not guilty on a charge of spreading information meant to "cause harm or damage to the public interest" and not guilty on the closely related charge of spreading false news "bound to weaken" Egypt's "prestige" or harm the "country's national interests." Bishoy, however, was found guilty of an unidentified charge (likely that of inciting sectarian strife) and sentenced to one year in prison.

  Since Bishoy has already spent more than a year in prison while waiting for his trial and appeal to take place, technically, he should have been granted release at the conclusion of the recent hearing. Instead, Bishoy has been held without an opportunity to post bail because of the blasphemy charges filed against him five years ago by two Islamist lawyers. His attorneys believe the state, in effect, has taken an active role in punishing Bishoy for his conversion by holding him on charges past their statutory limit and, as mentioned, doing so without any possibility of bail. Sources have also reported that Bishoy has endured abuse while imprisoned, including verbal and physical assaults and times of solitary confinement. (For more information on Bishoy's imprisonment, visit our website.)

  Despite this disappointing news, please pray that Bishoy will remain confident in his Saviour and Lord, knowing that true freedom is only found in Him. Yet, as he serves this remaining sentence, let us continue praying for his physical freedom from prison, so that he may very soon be allowed to return home to his struggling wife and young children. Please intercede on behalf of those who have brought all these charges against Bishoy, as well as the guards abusing him, that they may also come to know Jesus Christ as their Redeemer!

  For more information about the trials our Christian family faces in Egypt, read our Country Report.

• Christian Mother Kidnapped by Militant Muslim

  Christian girls like these are often at risk of being kidnapped because of their faith.

  Eman Morco Saroufim, a 39-year-old Christian mother of five children, was kidnapped from her village in Menia on September 3rd by an armed Muslim man.

  Officials initially denied that Eman had been kidnapped, reporting that she had willingly left her family and converted to Islam. Thankfully, Eman was able to escape her captor on September 26th and has since publicly stated that she is a Christian and will never convert to Islam. However, she and her children remain under threat, as her abductor has threatened to kidnap her children if she does not return to him.

• Christian Convert Re-arrested Shortly After Release

  Bishoy Armia Boulous Photo: Morning Star News

  Bishoy Armia Boulous (previously known as Mohammed Hegazy) was recently released from detention only to be re-arrested on charges of "defaming Islam." The 31-year-old convert to Christianity was released on bail after appealing his June 18th conviction of "inciting sectarian violence," having been caught by authorities with a camera and several flash drives in Minya, Upper Egypt. Authorities claimed he was contributing to a "false image" that there is persecution in Minya, even though believers there have suffered numerous and well-documented public kidnappings, assaults and destruction of property. (For more information on these charges, please visit this page.)

• Christian Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

  Mohammed Hegazy

  Bishoy Armia Boulous -- who formerly went by the name Mohammed Hegazy -- was sentenced on June 18th to five years in prison for "disturbing the peace by broadcasting false information on...an evangelism (TV) channel." Bishoy was also sentenced to pay 500 Egyptian pounds (approximately $75 CAD).

• Christian Woman Brutally Attacked and Killed

  Mary Sameh George

  Mary Sameh George, a 25-year-old Christian who lived with her parents and sister in Cairo, was brutally attacked and killed on March 28th by pro-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators.

  Mary was on her way to deliver groceries and other necessities to a poor family in the Ein Shams area, as she did every Friday, when she was stopped by a group of protesters. When they spotted Mary's gold cross necklace, they dragged her out of the car and repeatedly stabbed her before finally choking her to death.

• Shot Christian Refused Medical Treatment

  A hospital in Cairo Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Hypermedic

  A Coptic Christian young man died on New Year's Eve from a gunshot wound to the head after three hospitals in Cairo turned him away.

  Ihab Ghattas, 23, was shot outside Mar Girgis (St. George's) Church in the Ain Shams area of Cairo. Ihab, along with some other young people, had reportedly joined police in defending their church from members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a militant Islamist group, who were protesting outside the building at the time. Ihab was then reportedly shot by one of the protestors.

• High-Profile Convert Jailed for 'Inciting Strife'

  Pray that God will protect Mohammed, as well as his wife and children.

  Mohammed Hegazy, a well-known Christian campaigner for religious liberty, has been detained in Egypt for allegedly inciting "sectarian strife." Sources are concerned that the 31-year-old believer may be enduring torture in prison.

• Gunmen Attack Wedding Guests in Giza

  Photo: Flickr / Andrew Malone

  On the evening of October 20th, two unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire on guests exiting a Coptic Christian church in Giza (about 20 kilometres southwest of central Cairo). The gunmen fired automatic weapons as the guests were leaving the church after attending a wedding ceremony.