The Australian Coptic Movement has appealed for the safety and protection of Egyptian Copts in Libya after seven Coptic Christians were abducted in a city of Libya controlled by Islamic militias.
According to Ahram Online, a Minya church priest in Anba Karas named Father Estefanos, has confirmed that seven Christian Coptic men were kidnapped Monday night in the Egyptian city of Samalut which is near the Libyan city, Sirte.
Father Estafanos stated that he has confirmed the report from people who were riding with the men, saying, "Gunmen stopped a vehicle that was transporting the seven men who were with other colleagues, but they were the only ones kidnapped."
Meanwhile, a week before this incident, three Christian Copts were also murdered by armed men. According to reports, among the three people killed in Libya was a thirteen year old girl, who was a daughter of two doctors, which were slain first by these armed men.
This is not the only time that Christian Copts were abducted or killed. Persecutions of Christian Copts started when Mohammed Gaddafi has been ousted in Libya in 2011. There was apparantly no other motives for these attacks asides from their personal religious identification. As the years went by, persecution and abduction have been more prevalent.
The Australian Coptic Movement has been consistent in denouncing these persecutions and abductions in Libya. They have been calling out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Egypt to intervene in these brutal acts as it has become widespread doings against Christian Copts. They also have insisted there should be further protection to all Christian Copts and their families and that justice must be served to the victims of such acts.