After holding a so-called reconciliation meeting on Saturday evening, the villagers decided to fine the young man 150,000 EGP and expel him and his five brothers from the village. The militants were not satisfied with this punishment.
The meeting decided to fine the young man and expel him from the village, even though a medical examination of the young woman proved she is still a virgin.
Rev. Khalil Ibrahim, pastor of Grace Apostolic Church in Ezbet Zakaria, said, “After the reconciliation meeting made the decision, there were cries of anger. Hundreds of Muslims from the neighboring villages of Edmou, Damsher and Abu Dahab came and fired bullets at the homes of Copts. They also set fire to six houses owned by Copts and a store for electrical appliances owned by Thabit Sadik, the young man’s father. Losses are estimated at about one million EGP,” the pastor added.
Rev. Ibrahim pointed out that the attackers smashed his car, which he recently purchased for about 100,000 EGP, in addition to setting fire to two taxis.
Rev. Ibrahim also denounced the position of the security forces, which he described as languid. He pointed out that all this happened under the nose of security forces which were present at the time of the incident. They did not intervene other than to protect the church by cordoning it off.
The pastor emphasized that Muslims are demanding the expulsion of all the relatives of the Coptic man, which consists of six families. He wondered, “Where can six families go, especially after their possessions were burned by the militants who attacked them?”
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