CAIRO: Customs officials on Tuesday arrested a Turkish man at Cairo airport after they found ancient Coptic Christian relics in his luggage, an airport official said.
The 72-year-old traveler is suspected of trying to smuggle three Coptic bibles, two illustrated papyrus scrolls and fabrics dating back to the 6th century.
The man reportedly said he had bought the relics at Cairo s Khan El-Khalili bazaar for $150 (?113).
Egypt s Copts were among the first Christians and built the world s oldest extant monasteries. The Coptic era ended with the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the seventh century.
Copts today account for an estimated six to 10 percent of the country s 80 million inhabitants.
People convicted of trying to smuggle artifacts out of Egypt face up to 15 years in jail. -AFP
