Some 100 Copts have been demonstrating in front of the security directorate in Assiut, Upper Egypt, demanding that they should be afforded protection against outlaws
Some 100 Copts have been demonstrating in front of the security directorate in Assiut, Upper Egypt, demanding that they should be afforded protection against outlaws.
The Copts come from the village of al-Gawli in Manfalout, Assiut, a village with some 80 per cent Coptic population. A gang led by the two outlaws Mustafa al-Sissi and Mustafa al-Asmar has been attacking the Copts of Gawli in their homes, kidnapping their sons and demanding ransom to return them. Early this morning they attacked the home of Romany Murad al-Gawli, raining it with gunfire, and threatening to kill those inside if they do not pay tribute.
The Copts made several complaints at the local police station but, when there was no response, headed to Assiut. The Coptic population of Gawli are mostly well-off merchants who work in the poultry trade.
WATANI International
14 August 2012