CAIRO: Dozens of Salafist Muslims demonstrated in Tahrir Square on Tuesday and then headed toward the Egyptian Cabinet and Ministry of Interior. The group called for the release of Camilia Shehata, the wife of a Coptic Christian priest whom the group claims has converted to Islam and is being held against her will in a monestary. A video posted on YouTube has shown Camilia confirming she is still a Christian and never converted to Islam. The Salafists chanted, “with soul and blood… we sacrifice Islam” and “we cannot be silenced about our Muslim women captive in monasteries.” The issue began in July 2010, when Camilia Shehata, from Minya Governorate, disappeared for almost a week. Coptic activists immediately protested, accusing Muslims of kidnapping her and forcing her to convert to Islam. A few days later, Camilia was found at a friend's home and denied that she had converted to Islam. Since then, some have insisted Camilia did convert to Islam but was returned to the Church against her will and has been held there ever since. BM
