12 March 2009

Another Christian in Egypt Murdered on Pretext of Harrassing Muslim Female
For the second time in less than a week, a Copt has been abducted, tortured for 9 days, killed and thrown into the Nile, on pretext of harassing a Muslim girl.

Police Investigations confirmed that the victim was lured to his death by a Muslim girl. The heinous crime was committed by a Muslim killer who posed as a police officer, deluded his partners in crime under the pretext that his sister was harassed by the Coptic victim.

Inhabitants of the village Kafr Naim, not far from the village of Dmas where a similar incident happened last week, found a body floating on the waters of the Nile. The male body's feet and hands were tied with rope in a squat position, and his face and head bandaged.

Investigation confirmed that the body belonged to 28-year-old Copt Wagih Maurice Barzi -- who was missing from home for 15 days. His mother Blanche, Naguib -- 54 years -- identified the body of her son by his clothing.

Police investigations tracked the victim's phone, which was stolen, to a mobile phone dealer in Cairo, who admitted that he bought it from a police officer.

Descriptions were identical with one of the 'friends' of the victim "Basem A." -- 31 years -- a former airline steward and presently supermarket owner in the town of Benha.

The police raided the supermarket were they found belongings of the Coptic victim.Police arrested "Ahmed. A." -- 16 years -- and "Sami. M" -- 51 years - who worked for the friend of the victim.

The accused admitted that the supermarket owner told them he was police officer. After police intensive interrogation they confessed that they imprisoned the victim and tortured him as "courtesy" to the police officer, who convinced them that the Coptic victim had a relationship with his sister against her will.

They also confessed that he brought to them a girl called "Asmaa M" -- 21 years -- to lure the victim. The accused said the girl managed to lure the victim to a place close to the supermarket, then they (the accused) assaulted him, accompanied by 7 others, claiming to be the girl's family.

They detained the victim and tortured him for 9 days, before taking him to the village of Kowesna, Menoufia. They tied him with ropes and threw him into the Nile, the accused added.

Prosecution ordered the detainment of the accused for four days pending investigations, the arrest of the main defendant, as well as the 7 unidentified persons who helped in the abduction of the Copt.

The victim's body was released for burial and delivered to his family.

This incident caused sectarian tention among the Coptic and Cristian communities. Church leaders in Meet Ghamr showed their anger at the repetition and increase in the Coptic killings.