Posted on 01/14/2005 8:29:51 AM PST by miltonim
The Egyptian Christian director of a home for troubled Coptic girls goes on trial January 16 in Cairo on charges of holding a 16-year-old Coptic girl against her will and without her parents permission, and also of trying to rape her.
Shafik Saleh Shafik, 57, claims the case against him is an attempt to close down his recovery ministry among Coptic girls who are being enticed to leave their Christian families and convert to Islam.
The state security police wrote on their report about me that I am a very dangerous man, because I am preaching Christianity, Shafik told Compass.
The case began September 6 when Magda Refaat Gayed escaped from Shafiks facility the morning after her family placed her there, claiming she was beaten and raped.
In violation of Egyptian law, police have refused to return the girl to her parents custody, sending her instead to a facility operated by an Islamic group.
Shafiks safe-house has been closed down.
Would they charge a Muslim with the same crime?
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