Christians in Egypt request prayer after the killing of another Christians in the town of al-Arish, Northern Sinai governorate, on 13 of January. Bassem Shehata Haraz had only returned to al-Arish six months ago, after fleeing earlier violent attacks against Christians last February.
On 13 of January, after closing his shop, he was walking home with two other people. They were stopped by armed men who, after seeing a cross tattooed on Bassem’s wrist, asked him whether he was a Christian. When he answered affirmatively they shot him. They told the other two men to leave the scene.
In February 2017 more than 300 Christian families fled Northern Sinai after seven Christians were killed in the spate of a few weeks, and Muslim extremists issued a video threatening further violence against Christians. Bassem is the second Christians who returned to al-Arish who was killed by etremists. The first one was Nabil Saber Fawzy who was killed after returning to al-Arish in May 2017.
Muslim extremists in Northern Sinai also regularly attack security personnel and people suspected of working with the authorities. Sufi Muslims have also been targetted by the extremists. In November 2016 Suleiman Abu Haraz, a highly respected 100-year-old Sufi Muslim leader, was beheaded and in a 24 November 2017 attack on a Sufi mosque 305 worshippers were killed.
Prayer Request
Christians in Egypt request prayer:
a. for the Lord’s comfort for those whose loved ones were killed by extremists in North Sinai
b. for protection for Christians and others threatened by militants, and for wisdom as to how to respond to these threats
c. that those responsible for the killings will be touched by God’s love and will repent
