Cairo: A total of 20 Egyptian Christians have been seized by militant Islamist militiamen in neighbouring Libya, a non-governmental group reported Saturday, amid growing concerns among Egypt’s Christian minority that they are targeted in Libya’s violence.
Suspected Islamist gunmen Saturday stormed a residence of Egyptians working in the Libyan city of Sirte and took away 17 Christians to an unknown destination, said Meena Thabet, a researcher at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.
Last week, seven other Egyptian Christians were seized while leaving the Libyan territory for Egypt, according to Thabet.
There was no immediate comment from Egyptian authorities.
The reported kidnappings come a week after suspected hardline Islamists in Libya abducted and killed an Egyptian Christian physician, his wife and daughter.
The Egyptian government has repeatedly advised citizens against travelling to Libya, which is experiencing its worst violence since the overthrow and slaying of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi,
Egypt’s Christians have urged authorities to act to ensure the release of Copts reportedly seized in Libya.
“All Egyptians, mainly the Copts, must not keep silent on the unjustified targeting of Copts by armed Libyan groups,” said Bishop Maqar Issa of a church in the Upper Egyptian province of Minya, the hometown of most abductees.
“All state agencies, especially the Foreign Ministry, must make all the necessary efforts for their safe release,” he told independent newspaper Al Shorouk.
Christians make up around 10 per cent of Egypt’s mostly Muslim population of 87 million.