12/28/2018 Egypt (International Christian Concern) – ICC reported on December 12 that Egyptian police officer Rabi Mustapha Khalifa shot and killed Coptic Christian Emad Kmal Sadeq and his son David. The police officer was stationed as a security guard at the Nahded al-Qadasa Church in Minya City, Upper Egypt.

The prosecution has charged the officer with premeditated murder and issued a statement on December 19 which confirmed that the officer had waited at the church to see the victims with the intent to kill them. Minya Bishop Anba Makarios says that this attack was more dangerous than the deadly Nov. 2 attack by ISIS against a bus caravan of Christians. The Bishop says that ISIS is the enemy of all Egyptians, whereas the policeman was meant to protect Christians not to kill them.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry recently told Al-Monitor that this was a personal incident and that the ministry has taken steps to ensure the safety of individuals. However, it is worth noting that within the last year there have been at least 3 incidents of police officers tasked with protecting the safety of churches instead engaging in an act of violence towards them. Christians have also reported incidents of police officers allowing mob attacks against churches to occur.

For interviews with Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].