A few days ago saw the eruption of a similar crisis in Wasta, Beni Sweif, some 100km south of Cairo, also on account of the ‘disappearance’ of a young Muslim woman, a student, who goes by the first name of Rana and the initials H. Sh.; since the ‘disappearance’ of a woman in rural Egypt brings disgrace on her family, there is a general reluctance to publicize names. The Salafis in Wasta accused the Church of baptizing Rana and keeping her in hiding, and gave the Church and the Wasta Copts an ultimatum that, if they do not hand over the student within three days, they will “pay dearly for it”. No amount of assurances by the Church that it had nothing to do with Rana’s disappearance and knew nothing of where she could be would make the Salafis believe that Rana was not kept by the Church.
Today, Rana’s family announced they received a letter in her handwriting, in which she revealed that she had left home with a Muslim man, Ahmed E. H., and married him. She said that, once the marriage contract was ratified, she would post it online for everyone to see. The family has already allowed the media to publish /images of their daughter’s letter.
______________________________________________
Robeir al-Faris – Nader Shukry -Lillian Nabil – Watani International