A demonstration has been held by the townspeople of Samalout in front of the Minya Governorate building in Minya, to protest against the inaction of the Minya security authorities regarding rising outlaw activity in Samalout
A demonstration has been held by the townspeople of Samalout in front of the Minya Governorate building in Minya, to protest against the inaction of the Minya security authorities regarding rising outlaw activity in Samalout.
Samalout residents, especially the Copts among them, have been victims of numerous crimes of kidnapping and land seizure against ransom or the forced selling of their land for meagre amounts of money. Copts especially are vulnerable since they form a thriving, well-off community; and are yet seen as easy prey since the authorities are more often than not reluctant to offer them any protection against Muslim offenders.
A list which the Samalout residents compiled showed that cases of kidnapping and land seizure crimes have steadily risen since the January 2011 Revolution.
The list includes, among many others, the following crimes:
1. Dr Ezzat Cromel was kidnapped and released on pay of EGP270,000 ransom.
2. Nadi Louis’s 220sq.m piece of land was seized by outlaws.
3. Adel al-Aawar lost a 400sq.m piece of land, seized by outlaws.
4. Joseph Bushra was forced to sell his land for EGP1 million to individuals who usurped it; the land is actually worth EGP3 million.
5. Saad Bushra Ayaad’s house, which houses an orphanage, was seized.
6. Simsim Habib al-Sayegh lost land worth some EGP10 million to usurpers.
Watani International
12 February 2013