The families of 21 Coptic Christian Egyptians kidnapped by the self-proclaimed ‘Islamic State’ (ISIS) in Libya held a protest outside the Press Syndicate demanding Egyptian state intervention on Friday.
The families stated that the presidency, the foreign ministry, and Minya governor did nothing in response to the kidnapping and added that they fear for their abducted relatives to be executed.
“An official should come stand with the families,” Michael Aramnous, one of the stand’s organisers founders of Sarkha for Coptic rights said. “Is our blood really that cheap?! No one has done anything.”
A magazine affiliated with ISIS published photos of the captive workers handcuffed in orange jumpsuits, posing in execution positions.
Egyptians constitute a large labour force in Libya and have previously been kidnapped and often killed in the midst of fighting between Libyan militias.
All photos by Jihad Abaza
