CAIRO - Salafist protesters suspended their sit-in outside St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo for 15 days late Friday, according to local newspapers. After the Friday Prayer, Cairo witnessed three separate protests staged by Salafists, calling for the release of Coptic women who converted to Islam, but were supposedly held against their will by the Coptic Orthodox Church in monasteries and churches. The first demonstration was held in front of Al-Fatah Mosque in Ramsis Square, the second outside Al-Nour Mosque in Abbassiya Square and the third emerged from the Sharia Association Mosque in Ramsis. They marched to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbassiya. “We demand the release of newly converted Muslims, particularly Camelia Shehata, a priest's wife, and Wafaa Constantine,” declared the protesters. They held banners and photos of the two women, rumoured to be abducted by the Church. Earlier, a judicial decree had ordered the appearance of Camelia Shehata in the media. “I call for the implementation of human rights and the rule of law. This sit-in is not directed against the Cathedral as a house of worship for Christians. Rather, the Christians are our partners in the homeland,” said Islamic lawyer Mamdouh Ismail, asking Christians “to participate in the demonstrations, demanding Camelia's appearance”. The Cathedral was cordoned off by military police and security forces. Major General Hamdy Badeen, the Military Police Commander, held negotiations with representatives of the angry protesters. “Major General Badeen has promised to resolve the issue of Camelia Shehata within 15 days,” said Hashem Kamal, coordinator of the newly founded Coalition for the Support of New Muslims and one of the protesters' representatives. “Badeen promised that Shehata will make an appearance in the media,” added Kamal.
