Yet another Coptic Christian child was recently kidnapped in Egypt. Thirteen-year-old Cyril Rif”˜at Fayiz was abducted in the Minya district by “unknown persons” who later called the child’s parents demanding one million Egyptian pounds, nearly the equivalent of $150,000 USD.
Kidnapping and holding Coptic children captive for large ransoms has become a regular feature of the Egyptian landscape, particularly in Minya, Upper Egypt, where millions of Christians live.
And the reasons for kidnapping them continuously morph.
For example, right before the Egyptian June Revolution, which saw the ousting of former president Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, letters addressed to the Copts of Minya threatened them not to join the anti-Morsi protests, otherwise their “businesses, cars, homes, schools, and churches” might “catch fire” — all of which happened.
The message, which was signed by “people zealous for the nation,” concluded by saying “If you are not worried about any of these, then worry about your children and your homes.”
In short, Coptic children are vulnerable and effective targets in Egypt — whether they are targeted because Copts fail to behave as dhimmis, that is, third class citizens, or simply to make a profit.
Raymond Ibrahim is author of Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians