Source: www.persecution.org
Date: March 11, 2022
Egypt (International Christian Concern) – On March 1, three Coptic Christian brothers were brutally murdered by a group of six Muslims who claimed the attack was a “revenge killing” after the death of their own family member seventy years ago. The three brothers, Youssef Youssef Youssef, Afifi Youssef Youssef and Bushra Youssef Youssef, were working in an agricultural at the time of their death.
Their attackers, from Jaweer village, shot the men in Ibshadat village of Mallawi district and then cut and mutilated their bodies. The attackers reportedly danced as they committed their crime. The village from which they came also celebrated with musical instruments when they heard the news. The family and friends of the Youssef Youssef family mourned and wailed upon hearing about the men’s death.
Lawyers and those familiar with the incident reported that the men knew nothing of the killing that happened when their father was younger and that the manner of the recent murders did not match those of typical revenge killings. Some remarked that the mutilating of the corpses made it clear that the violence was linked to religious identity and mirrored the killings of the Islamic State.
According to an ICC source, those responsible for the killing returned to their village saying “Allahu Akbar” or “God is Greater”. The men were swiftly captured and arrested by the police and later confessed their crimes and even demonstrated how they killed the Christian men. They are now standing trial for the murder of the three Christian brothers, one of whom has six children.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for comfort for the brothers’ families. Pray for repentance for those who committed this violence. Pray for peace between differing religious groups in Egypt.