The killer of a Coptic man from the Minya village of Tahna al-Gabal, some 230km south of Cairo, has been sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of ‘beating that led to death’.
Kamel Mohsen Kamel last July [2016] participated in an attack against the Copts of Tahna al-Gabal that left 27-year-old Fam Mari Khalaf dead and three other Copts injured.
According to a statement then issued by Anba Macarius, Bishop-General of Minya, the [extended] family of two priests in the village of Tahna al-Gabal were victims of an attack with clubs and knives, which took place at 6:15pm Sunday 17 July 2016. Fam Mari Khalaf, 27, lost his life on account of a stab that penetrated his heart; two others were moved to the Good Shepherd Hospital in nearby Samalout suffering from serious injuries.
Naguib Hanna, 80, father of the priest Fr Matta’os who is pastor of the church of Mar-Mina in Tahna al-Gabal, was stabbed several times in the face; and Malak Aziz Hanna, 40, brother-in-law of Fr Matta’os and brother of Fr Boutros who is another priest belonging to the same family, suffered from a stab in the right side. Azza Gomaa, 35, a female neighbour, suffered slight injuries in the face.
An argument had erupted between Mr Hanna and a number of Muslims who were driving a tricycle in front of his house and had attacked his young grandson, a 7-year-old named Mikhail, who was playing there. Eyewitnesses say that the grandfather reprimanded them and a number of Coptic neighbours joined in, which drove the tricycle riders who were carrying knives and clubs, to fight with the Copts. The fight escalated to include scores of Muslim villagers; Mr Khalaf lost his life and the other three were injured.
Watani International
18 February 2017