WATANI International
29 October 2010
On Wednesday 26 October, Shebin al-Kom criminal court sentenced to death Galal Erban, who goes by the name Usama al-Bouhyagi, for murdering one man and seriously injuring two others in the region Menoufiya in September 2009.
Galal Nasr Erban, a 35-year-old Muslim who goes by the name of Usama al-Bouhyagi, had attacked with a 40cm-long knife Abdou Gorgi, a 63-year-old Copt who owns a shop for car seat upholstery in the small town of Bagour. Bouhyagi repeatedly stabbed Gorgi to death and slit his throat. He then ran off on his motorbike to two neighbouring villages where he stabbed Adeeb Messeiha Boulos, a 40-year-old owner of a shoe repair shop, and Hany Barsoum, a 35-year-old blacksmith.
Bouhyagi was caught by the police the following day and confessed his crime. He was pronounced sane by the medical authorities. However, he gave no reason for committing his crimes, and denied that he may have had accomplices.
Copts of Menoufiya described the ruling as ‘fair and just’.
“The ruling is unique in that it is the first time a court issues such a judgement in a sectarian crime,” said Aziz Erian, the lawyer who represented the victim’s family.
The ruling has to be approved by Egypt’s Grand Mufti.