
Member of Egypt’s Shura Council Faridi el-Bayadi said he met with Egypt’s Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim to brief him on the phenomenon of the increased disappearance of Coptic girls threatening the security of the Christian families.
Bayadi said he called on the interior minister to restore the sessions of advice and guidance that were held for those people who convert from Christianity to Islam, clarifying that former Minister of Interior Habib el-Adli cancelled these sessions. He added that the Egyptian security official stressed that it is not the role of the ministry, and that converting to Islam is the role of Azhar.
Bayadi said he called on the interior minister to restore the sessions of advice and guidance that were held for those people who convert from Christianity to Islam, clarifying that former Minister of Interior Habib el-Adli cancelled these sessions. He added that the Egyptian security official stressed that it is not the role of the ministry, and that converting to Islam is the role of Azhar.
He told MCN, “Egypt’s Interior Ministry denies its responsibility to protect citizens and underage Coptic girls, stressing that it is a serious matter contradicting with the constitution that ensures protection for each individual." He signaled that the Interior Ministry cancelled the advice and guidance sessions, and that the responsibility of Azhar is limited to changing religion without knowing the position of the girl and whether she wants to change her religion or if she faces pressure to take such a step.
He proposed the formation of a committee related to Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights to bear responsibility for the disappearance of Coptic girls and the change of religion. He stressed the need for revealing the fate of the girls and minors who have disappeared, which is considered a kidnap crime.
Abram Lewis, founder of the League of the Victims of Kidnap and Forced Disappearance, said that the sessions of advice and guidance have a legal basis, adding that they were implemented according to a decision issued by Egypt’s Interior Ministry.
He called on the Interior Ministry to issue a formal decision or statement to decide whether such sessions are legal or not. He stressed that if these sessions are not legal, the security institution should issue a formal decision in this regard, and it should activate them if they are indeed legal.
The disappearance of underage Coptic girls has witnessed a notable increase in the recent period. Lewis revealed that his league has documents which prove the disappearance of 500 Coptic girls amid legal skepticism that they have been strongly pressured to convert to Islam, especially since the cancelling of the advice and guidance sessions that were held to make sure that they were converting to Islam without any pressure.
He proposed the formation of a committee related to Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights to bear responsibility for the disappearance of Coptic girls and the change of religion. He stressed the need for revealing the fate of the girls and minors who have disappeared, which is considered a kidnap crime.
Abram Lewis, founder of the League of the Victims of Kidnap and Forced Disappearance, said that the sessions of advice and guidance have a legal basis, adding that they were implemented according to a decision issued by Egypt’s Interior Ministry.
He called on the Interior Ministry to issue a formal decision or statement to decide whether such sessions are legal or not. He stressed that if these sessions are not legal, the security institution should issue a formal decision in this regard, and it should activate them if they are indeed legal.
The disappearance of underage Coptic girls has witnessed a notable increase in the recent period. Lewis revealed that his league has documents which prove the disappearance of 500 Coptic girls amid legal skepticism that they have been strongly pressured to convert to Islam, especially since the cancelling of the advice and guidance sessions that were held to make sure that they were converting to Islam without any pressure.