A Copt Murder by Muslims-Security Forces Sieges Area Security forces cordoned off the streets of “Elsawaki”, Luxor, in anticipation of clashes between Muslim and Christian, following the murder of Mr. Emil Abdel-Malak, a 25 year old Copt by Ahmed Ali Hassan Ismail, on New Year’s Eve. Emil was stabbed in the heart, resulting in his death.The murderers were arrested in western bank town of “Qurnah”.The police dispersed dozens of Copts who gathered to protest in front of St. George’s Church, “Elsawaki”, a district inhabited mainly by Copts. Security authorities ordered an autopsy, and the burial of the body, but refused to allow the burial ceremony to be held at St. George’s Church, where the victim was member of its congregation. They ordered the victim’s family to take his body from the hospital Morque straight to the distant "Shayeb" Monastery for the burial ceremony. The family of the murdered Copt refused to receive condolences. According to Mr. Raafat Habib, Luxor director of the Egyptian Union"Organization for Human Rights and one of its investigating team, that the security forces mishandled the brother of the victim, Medhat Abdel Malak,(22 years), who upon learning of his brother’s death, was under shock and tried to attack the home of the murderer, but he was assaulted by members of the Central Security with sticks, leading to injuries to his back and bruising to his face and was taken to hospital. Some angry Copts also tried to attack the home of the killer, but the police forces drove them away and imposed a siege on the house. Osama, the victim’s brother said that Faraj Abu Sodah, and two of his relatives called Haggag and Ismail, who are registered as dangerous and drugs dealers, went to steal clover from his family’s field. When the father, Osama, and the victim Emil confronted them, Haggag put his knife on the father’s throat and threatened to kill him. When the victim went to his father’s aid, Ismail stabbed him in his heart, which led to his instant death. Osama went to fetch a stick to defend his family.but upon his return he found his brother dead on the ground and the culprits have fled. The situation is now calm after the victim’s burial and prosecutors started their investigations to identify the causes of the murder, at the same time, the security authorities are putting pressure on the victim’s family so as not to cause any escalation to the present situation.
