Six Egyptian Coptic Christians kidnapped in Libya to demand ransom

17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Six Egyptian Coptic Christians were kidnapped last week in Libya by unidentified armed individuals who are now demanding ransom for their release, an Egyptian parliamentarian and Coptic organizations from the African country have denounced.

“Criminal gangs in Libya kidnapped six Coptic Egyptians about a week ago and are demanding a large ransom for their release,” Mostafa Bakri, a parliamentarian, said on Twitter.

Likewise, the parliamentarian has stressed that “the question is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is doing to achieve the release of Egyptian citizens”, after which he has presented a request for the head of the portfolio, Samé Shukri, to give explanations, such and as the Egyptian newspaper ‘Al Ahram’ has collected.

The Egyptian television channel MESat, linked to the country’s Coptic community, has indicated that the kidnappers are asking for the payment of 15,000 Libyan dinars (around 2,925 euros) for the release of each of the hostages.

In this sense, the non-governmental organization Coptic Solidarity has highlighted that the relatives of the kidnapped have asked the Government to take the threats seriously and to provide help to achieve the release of these people.

Multiple Egyptian workers have been kidnapped in Libya in recent years to demand ransom, although the case is worrisome given that it takes place nearly eight years after the jihadist group Islamic State kidnapped and beheaded 21 Christians –among them 20 Egyptians– in Sirte.

After the publication of the video of the executions, the Egyptian Armed Forces carried out a series of bombardments against Islamic State camps and positions in the city of Derna (east), where between 40 and 50 suspected jihadists died. The Libyan National Army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, announced in September 2022 that the ‘mastermind’ behind these executions, Mahdi Dangu, had been killed during an operation by security forces.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of the total Egyptian population and their relations with the Muslim majority are considered a model of coexistence between religions. However, Coptic churches are the target of attacks by extremist groups, including Islamic State.