Libya: growing number of attacks on Christians

Mar 5th, 2013

A Catholic priest in Tripoli was attacked by armed militia men on Saturday, 2 March. This was the latest in a growing number of attacks on Christians in Libya. In Benghazi last week a group of armed men attacked a church in Benghazi assaulting two priests of the Egyptian Coptic community.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry strongly condemning the incident, "contrary to the laws," of Islam and international law.

But, a few days earlier, between 50 and 100 Copts were arrested in the capital of Cyrenaica charged with proselytizing. Thanks to the intervention of the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and of the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli, the group of Copts in Egypt was expelled and accusations of proselytism were withdrawn.

Earlier, on 13 February, four people of different nationalities, members of a Protestant community were arrested on charges of proselytism.

A spokesman told Fides: "The situation is not good for Christians both in Tripoli and Benghazi".

Source: Fides

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