A further case of blackmailing Copts was published in Al-Sabāh: Tharwat Malik Barsūm, owner of a tourist resort in al-Minya governorate, Upper Egypt, filed a complaint against persons (identity undisclosed) blackmailing and asking him to pay a ransom of 500 thousand Egyptian Pounds or his resort would be bombed.

The blackmail suggests that as the resort was “purchased by Barsūm through 'illegal' business between the owner and a remnant of the former regime, and as the owner, Barsūm was allowing 'obscenity and vice,' the resort will be bombed unless he pays the ransom.” The blackmail title was”[…]Upon this Abu Sa'id remarked: This man has performed (his duty) laid on him. I heard the Messenger of Allah as saying: He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith number 79]

Upon intensive police investigation, the land was a case of dispute between Barsūm and a lawyer who claimed being the owner (name undisclosed). The ruling in 2012 came in favor of Barsūm.

Further investigations want to disclose the circumstances surrounding such threat. [Ashraf Kamāl, Al-Sabāh, Jan. 4, p. 16] Read original text in Arabic