Egyptian priest faced with death fatwa after prayer hall request

Muslim village elders in Minia Governorate in Egypt have issued a death fatwa against a Coptic priest after he sought permission to convert part of his family home into a prayer hall.
by Anne Thomas
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

According to the United Copts of Great Britain (UCGB), Father Estefanos Shehata was also banned for one month from entering his home village of Ezbet Dawood Youssef in Minia Governate.

Father Estefanos told the Middle East Christian Association (MECA) that the Muslim elders had reacted angrily to his request for the prayer hall, which he had wanted to use to conduct funeral services and marriage ceremonies.

Buildings must receive special licenses from the Egyptian government before they can be used for religious purposes, something Coptic Christians have traditionally struggled to obtain.

Although Ezbet Dawood Youssef is home to around 800 Coptic Christians, they are yet to receive permission for their own church despite the village already having one mosque and constructing a second. the rest