AFRICA/EGYPT – Kidnappings of Copts are increasing, appeal to President al-Sisi

Nag Hammadi (Agenzia Fides) - The "Coalition of the Copts, an active organization in the Egyptian governorate of Qena, has addressed an urgent appeal to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and to the Egyptian Interior Ministry to ask for action against the scourge of seizures, affecting with particular virulence the Christians of Coptic confession in the areas of Upper Egypt. In the city area of Nag Hammadi alone, there have been 72 kidnappings for ransom in the past three years, of whom three were killed after the seizure. The amounts paid for the release of the Coptic hostages in the area of Nag Hammadi have exceeded the total of 7 million Egyptian pounds, amounting to more than EUR 700 thousand (the average salary in Egypt does not exceed 70 Euros per month). (GV) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2014)