Nader Shukry
WATANI International
11 May 2011
The disappearance of a young Coptic student, Christine Wahib, on Monday evening in the village of Sibayia in Edfu, Aswan, promises to raise another sectarian problem, since it was circulated in her village that Christine, who is not yet 18, was on her way to convert to Islam.
As soon as word got around, hundreds of Copts gathered inside the village demanding that the security authorities inform them of Christine’s whereabouts and destiny. They threatened to block the Cairo-Aswan highway if they get no information concerning the young woman.
“My daughter went missing on Monday evening after we had attended together the wedding party of one of our neighbours,” said Christine’s father who is an inspector at the Ministry of Education.
Fr Hedra of the village church of the Holy Virgin received a telephone call from anonymous persons informing him that the teenager was with them and that she intended to legally convert to Islam as soon as she turned 18
Copts called on security authorities to help track down Christine, confirming that they need to confirm she would be converting of her own free will. Right now, her father said, she is underage and not entitled to legally take such a step.