Dozens of lawyers protested yesterday in front of the Lawyers Syndicate calling for the immediate release of Kamilia Shehata, the wife of Tadros Samaan, Bishop of the Church of Saint Mark, Mowas Cathedral, Minya, saying she should state whether or not she wishes to proclaim her conversion to Islam. Shehata disappeared on 18 July after she left her house saying she was heading to her father's place. Five days later she returned to celebrations among Coptic Christians celebrations in Minya who were concerned her absence could have been the result of sectarian action. Before Shehata was located by security, Samaan filed a claim that his wife had been kidnapped. A few days after her release, rumors began circulating in Minya that Shehata had converted to Islam. Rumors also circulated that Shehata is currently being held in a monastery against her will. The protesters at the Lawyers Syndicate called on Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, to promptly disclose any sectarian incidents concealed by the church. The protesters distributed a statement in which they said they intended to establish an association of lawyers against sectarian sedition. The statement also called for protecting the nation against sectarianism, and demanded that the practice of fortifying churches or mosques be stopped, and that monasteries be monitored for security and health violations. Finally, they called for the immediate release of individuals detained in monasteries. Meanwhile, several bishops of the Holy Synod refused to comment on rumors of Shehata's possible conversion to Islam or on her alleged detention at an unknown location by the church. The bishops warned that the lawyers' demonstration could spark sectarian clashes, in view of the slogans chanted against the Pope during the protest. According to sources inside the monastery, Pope Shenouda has decided to block the media appearance of Shehata indefinitely, and has also decided to place her in a church guest house located in Ain Shams for the time being. Mowas Cathedral sources have said she is undergoing a rehabilitation process. No confirmation about Shehata's conversion was obtained from Al-Azhar, the official authority passing individuals' conversion to Islam. Initial police investigations on Shehata's disappearence revealed that she had left her home voluntarily due to family issues and that she has denied being kidnapped or subject to attempts to convert her to another religion. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
