Court in Egypt issues death sentence

A man has been sentenced to death by an Egyptian State Security Court for the killing of six Coptic Christians and a Muslim police officer, who were gunned down outside a church in Nag Hammadi after Coptic New Year’s Eve Mass in January 2010.

Reuters news agency reports that Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was charged with “premeditated murder” and “intimidating citizens” in Nag Hammadi. Two other men accused of being his accomplices will receive their sentences on 20 February 2011.

The ruling comes amid heightened tension following the bombing of a Coptic church in Alexandria on New Year’s Eve in which 23 people died and 80 were injured.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “A decision on this case is long-overdue, and while CSW values the court’s pursuit of justice for the victims, CSW does not condone the death penalty for any crime.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

CSW is the UK’s leading human rights advocacy organisation specialising in religious freedom, working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promoting religious liberty for all.