48 Egyptian Christians arrested on religious grounds in Libya

March 04, 2013 - Islamists in Libya continue their hunt of Christian workers, accusing them of proselytism. The latest case concerns the arrest of 48 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox traders arrested last week in Benghazi, the capital of the eastern region of Cyrenaica. They were detained after a complaint by some Libyans, suspicious of the religious imagery on the vendors boards and stalls in the market of Benghazi. In a video immediately seized by police they appear locked in a small room watched over by men who have the typical beard worn by Salafists. From the pictures the 48 appear in an obvious state of physical deterioration, many show bruises and abrasions. Each of them had their head shaved. The case has sparked outrage among the population of Benghazi against Salafi militias. On Saturday, the authorities issued a statement declaring the hawkers were arrested for violating immigration laws and not for religious reasons. The spread of Islamic extremism is also affecting the Catholic religious orders present for decades on Libyan territory, engaged in hospital work and looking after the elderly.