Crime has been rising in Egypt ever since Hosni Mubarak was ousted as president in 2011. But now the Associated Press puts some striking numbers on problems in Minya, the Egyptian governate with the densest Christian population.
The AP reports that a “wave of kidnappings in Minya has specifically targeted Christians, and victims, church leaders, and rights activists ultimately blame the atmosphere created by the rising power of hard-line Islamists.”
According to the AP’s thorough report, which also features a slideshow, more than 150 kidnappings of Christians have been reported in the province since the end of Mubarak’s presidency. Within the past few months, Christians have reported 37 kidnappings.
CT previously has reported on persecution of Christians in Egypt, the Arab Spring, and the future for Egypt’s Christiansunder Islamist law.
