CAIRO: Egyptian prosecutors Tuesday referred a man to trial for allegedly stabbing to death a Coptic Christian priest in an attack that shocked the Arab World’s most populous country.
The public prosecution said in a statement the suspect was accused of killing the priest earlier this month at the popular seaside promenade in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. He was also accused of illegal possession of a knife used in the attack, it said.
No date was set for the trial . The suspect could face a death sentence if convicted.
The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria identified the priest as Arsanious Wadid, 56, who served at a local parish.
Sectarian violence is not uncommon in Egypt. Islamic extremists have also targeted Christians in recent years, especially following the 2013 military ouster of an Islamist but elected president amid mass protests against his divisive rule.
In September 2017, an alleged Daesh supporter stabbed to death an 82-year-old Christian doctor in Cairo. He was sentenced to death the following year.
Egypt’s Copts, the Middle East’s largest Christian community, have repeatedly complained of discrimination. They account for about 10 percent of Egypt’s over 103 million people.
Egypt refers man accused of killing Coptic priest to trial
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Egypt refers man accused of killing Coptic priest to trial
- The suspect was accused of killing the priest earlier this month
- No date was set for the trial
Restoring Lebanon’s economic growth will require comprehensive reforms, IMF says
- Kozack said the global lender remains engaged in complex discussions with Lebanese authorities
- “The economy has shown resilience despite the impact of conflicts in the region”
WASHINGTON: Lebanon’s economy has shown resilience despite conflicts in the region, with tourism fueling a bit of a rebound, but restoring growth will require comprehensive reforms, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.
IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack said the global lender remains engaged in complex discussions with Lebanese authorities following their request for an IMF-supported program in March 2025.
The IMF sent a staff mission to Beirut earlier this month.
The talks have been focused on two big issues, she said, citing the need for banking sector restructuring and a medium-term fiscal strategy.
“The economy has shown resilience despite the impact of conflicts in the region. It has had a bit of a rebound on the back of tourism from the strong diaspora,” Kozack said.
“But at the same time, really restoring strong and sustainable growth will require a comprehensive set of reforms to tackle some of the structural weaknesses that have really hampered Lebanon’s economic performance for many years,” she said.
Reforms also are needed to attract international support to help Lebanon address its substantial reconstruction needs.
Kozack said Lebanon needs an updated medium-term fiscal framework that includes concrete measures to mobilize additional revenues for much-needed capital spending, as well as a sovereign debt restructuring to restore debt sustainability.
