Two Copts, Emad Kamal Sadeq, 49, and his son David Sadeq, 21 were shot dead last evening, 12 December, in the city of Minya some 250km south of Cairo, at the hands of a church security guard. The two men, who are construction contractors, were supervising a job of removing debris from a demolished building across the street from al-Nahda Evangelical church, when a dispute erupted between them and the church security guard, Rabie Mustafa Khalifa who then shot at them. According to an eyewitness, both men died on the spot.
The bodies were moved to Minya public hospital in an attempt to save their lives, but they were already dead by the time they arrived at the hospital.
The police arrested Khalifa who claimed that the two Copts had tried to snatch his gun during the dispute. The prosecution has ordered an investigation; it is hoped that the church’s CCTV cameras would include footage that would reveal the truth about the incident.
The pastor of Nahda church said that the sad incident was an individual one that had nothing to with the church.
The Bishopric of Minya and Abu-Qurqas Bishopric issued a statement citing the facts of the incident, in order to avoid circulation of rumours and false information.
Anba Macarius, Bishop of Minya and Abu-Qurqas presided over the funeral service for Emad and David Sadeq this morning at the church of Anba Bishoy and Anba Pola in Minya.
Watani International
13 December 2018