CAIRO: The ongoing ordeal of the case of Camelia Shehata, the wife of a Coptic Priest, who some in Egypt believe to be held by the Coptic Church in a monastery for her alleged conversion to Islam, has continued this week and caused widespread controversy in the local media as protests by the thousands erupted last weekend. Salafis – those who adhere to a literal interpretation of the Qur'an – are calling for the release of Shehata. Egypt's public prosecutor has ordered Shehata summoned and to give testimony. On Saturday, the General-Prosecutor also ordered the Coptic Church to deliver Shehata for questioning and give her testimony regarding the allegations, a report by state-run MENA news agency reported. Salafis have repeatedly held demonstrations against what they claim is the Coptic Church's detention of a Muslim woman, demanding her release. Last Friday, thousands of Salafis staged protests in front of the Cathedral in Abbasiya, the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch in Cairo, vowing to organize a sit-in until Shehata is released, but then they ended their protests when the head of the Military Police persuaded them to leave and promised them that Shehata would be shown to the public on TV or be brought to the prosecution within 15 days. The Coptic Church has rejected the summoning. However, Pope Shenouda III refrained from commenting on the massive protests in front of the Cathedral. Many communiqués have been filed to the public prosecution claiming that Shehata is being detained by the Church for her conversion to Islam. The protesters, according to local newspapers, raised banners asking for her release and called for protecting anyone who converts to Islam. Military Police were deployed and surrounded the Coptic Cathedral to prevent any attack. Salafis said they do not intend to break into the Cathedral, but they were demonstrating their will to release Shehata peacefully. The thousands of Salafis, who said they are members of the “Coalition Supporting New Muslims,” called for the prosecution of the Coptic Pope over the alleged detention of the priests' wife. Shehata disappeared from her home in Minya Governorate in July 2010, for five days, when Coptic youth swiftly accused Muslims of kidnapping her to force her to convert to Islam, before she was then found at a friend's house a few days later. This was when Salafis accused the Coptic Church of holding Shehata hostage because she embraced Islam and although a video on Youtube.com showed Shehata speaking from a Church stressing that she is still Christian and didn't convert, Salafis reiterated their calls for her release and said that she was forced to appear in the video. She said she left home willingly after a conflict with her husband. The Coptic Church and Al Azhar denied Shehata had converted to Islam, but protesters continue to accuse the Church of holding her in a monastery. On Sunday, May 1, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces warned that it would not tolerate attempts to stir sectarian tensions, in what seems as a warning to the Salafis, who vowed to continue their protests until Shehata is released. The SCAF published a statement on its official Facebook page, which bears the name “communiqué no. 44,” saying that it will take extreme measures against sectarianism or anything that would threaten the unity of Egypt. It said that all efforts will be exerted to end sectarian tension, adding that Egyptians have long lived harmoniously together and that the tensions only serve the interests of Egypt's enemies. “The council warns that it will not hesitate to take all measures, whatever they may be, to protect the unity of the Egyptian social fabric and the stability of Egypt,” the statement added. BM
