Two Egyptian Christians beaten, killed in Libya

Two Egyptian Christians beaten, killed in Libya

DERNA DISTRICT, Libya — A group of Muslims robbed two Egyptian Christians living in Libya, then tied up and shot them to death after the two Copts refused their demand to convert to Islam.

 On a rural road in Derna District in northeastern Libya on Sept. 25, a group of Muslims surrounded Waleed Saad Shaker, 25, and Nash’at Shenouda Ishaq, 27, demanded their belongings and started beating them. The Muslims demanded that Shaker and Ishaq recite the shahada, the declaration of conversion to Islam. When the two Orthodox Coptic Christians refused, the group of Muslims tied them up and shot them, relatives said.

Later that day, a shepherd found Shaker and Ishaq in the desert, and they were taken to Derna Hospital. Shaker was dead upon arrival at the hospital. Ishaq initially survived, and before he died he gave details about the assault to a relative.

 No one has been arrested in connection with the killings. The attack marks the third time in a two-week period that a Coptic Christian was robbed and killed in Derna District.