Bishop Pachomius of al-Beheira and the five Western cities said to al-Sabāh that the Church is closely following the case of detained Copts in Libya, accused of proselytizing. Many officials and the Egyptian Embassy in Libya are trying to release a number of detainees and prove the invalidity of their papers to have them deported to Egypt.

Although the detainees are denying their guilt, the leader of the Dutch Coptic Association, Bahā’ Ramzī, claimed there is no crime in proselytizing. He further criticized how the detained Copts are being oppressed and tortured without being involved in any activities that risk the stability or security of the country. According to Ramzī, they have minimal human rights and freedom to practice their religion. He concludes by saying that Libya will be held accountable for its actions and that escalatory steps will be taken to release the detainees (Mājī Jamāl, al-Sabāh, al-Misrī al-Yawm, al-Misrīyūn, March 4, p. 1). Read original text in Arabic.