Beheading Of 21 Coptic Christian Innocent Egyptian
workers In Libya is a Mere Savage and Cowardly Crime
Elias Bejjani
February 16/15
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2015/02/16/elias-bejjanibeheading-of-21-coptic-christian-innocent-egyptian-workers-in-libya-is-a-savage-cowardly-crime/
The barbaric and heinous crime that was committed yesterday in Libya by a group
of Jihadi terrorists affiliated to the notorious ISIS does not relate to any
human values, and has nothing to do with any faith. The beheading of 21
innocence Coptic Egyptian Christian workers is barbaric, savage, despicable and
disgusting. Definitely those coward creatures who are carrying such atrocities
are thinking and faith wise not human beings by all means, and in fact there are
no words that could describe their criminal acts, derailed education, evil
thinking hatred and hostility. We strongly believe that all sorts of rhetoric
condemnation are useless, meaningless and irrelevant. Sadly world-wide states,
rulers and politicians are not yet facing the so called jihadist terrorism
effectively because they are not speaking the right language that these
criminals comprehend and understand. Unless the language of force and deterrence
is put in action the Jihadist terrorism is going to remain a dire threat for the
whole world. We offer our heartily felt condolences to all families of the
innocent victims and to the Coptic Church. May Almighty God grant the victims'
souls eternal rest in His heavenly dwellings and shower on their bereaved
families graces of faith and patience.
We fully Adopt the below statement that was issued yesterday by our Canadian
Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on beheadings of Coptic
Christians in Libya
Ottawa, Ontario/15 February 2015
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement after
learning that up to 21 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians had reportedly been
beheaded in Libya by groups linked to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL): “I am outraged and saddened by the beheadings of Egyptian
Coptic Orthodox Christians in Libya by groups linked to ISIL. Coming soon after
the savage burning of Royal Jordanian Airforce pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, the
threat posed by ISIL could not be clearer. “On behalf of all Canadians, I offer
my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and to the
Coptic community here in Canada, who will feel the loss especially grievously.
“Canada is proud to stand with its allies in the fight against ISIL. We will
continue to stand firmly together against these terrorists who threaten the
peace and freedom we hold so dear at home and that we wish for those abroad.
“Barbaric acts such as this do not shake our resolve but, rather, confirm the
rightness of our cause and the vital necessity of our mission against ISIL. We
will not be intimidated.”
*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com & http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Tweets on https://twitter.com/phoeniciaelias
Face Book LCCC group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1797472293
BackGround
ISIS released a video on Sunday purportedly showing the
beheading of Egyptian Coptic Christians the militants say they captured in Libya
By Staff writer | Al Arabiya News/Sunday, 15 February 2015
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called Sunday an urgent meeting of Egypt’s top
national security body after ISIS militants released a video purportedly showing
the beheading of Egyptian Christians in Libya. Sisi also gave a television
address, saying that Egypt and the world are facing “ferocious threats” hailing
from radical militants, who are “devoid of any humane sense. ”He also said Egypt
is “capable” in facing this menace, adding that Egyptians are no longer allowed
to travel to Libya.
ISIS released a video on Sunday purportedly showing the beheading of Egyptian
Coptic Christians the militants say they captured in Libya. The footage released
online shows handcuffed hostages wearing orange jumpsuits being beheaded by
their black-suited captors on a seashore in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Egypt’s state news agency MENA quoted the spokesman for the Coptic Church as
confirming that 21 Egyptian Christians believed to be held by ISIS were
dead.Egypt also announced a seven-day mourning period.
Al-Azhar condemns ‘barbaric’ killing
Meanwhile, Sunni Islam’s top body, Al-Azhar, on Sunday condemned the “barbaric”
beheading of the Copts. “Al-Azhar received the news of the execution of a group
of innocent Egyptians with great sorrow and grief,” Al-Azhar said in a
statement.“Al-Azhar stresses that such barbaric action has nothing to do with
any religion or human values.”
Dabiq magazine
In the latest issue of ISIS online magazine Dabiq, the group said 21 Egyptian
hostages were being held, and pictures showed a similar background.
The video, titled “A message signed with blood to the nation of the cross,” has
a scrolling caption in the first few seconds saying it is directed at “People of
the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian Church.”Sunday’s video comes just
days after ISIS released a video showing the gruesome burning alive of a
Jordanian pilot it captured after his F-16 came down in Syria in December.
The highly choreographed video showing the killing of Maaz al-Kassasbeh
triggered global outrage. In January, ISIS branch in Libya claimed it had
abducted 21 Christians. A spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry confirmed
to AFP in Cairo that 20 Egyptians had been kidnapped in two separate incidents
in neighboring Libya. Badr Abdelatty did not say when they were seized or
specify their religious affiliation, but said seven Egyptians and 13 others
abducted separately in Libya “are still being detained” by their captors.
Italy closes Libyan embassy
In a related story, Italy closed its embassy in Libya on Sunday and stepped up
its call for a U.N. mission to calm the worsening conflict there as thousands of
migrants approached Italy by boat from North Africa. Libya is unraveling, with
two rival governments operating their own armed forces under separate
parliaments, nearly four years after the civil war that ousted leader Muammar
Gaddafi. “The deteriorating situation in Libya made it necessary to close (the
embassy),” Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said. Embassy staff have been sent
back to Italy, the ministry said.
(With AFP and Reuters)
Egyptian Church confirms 21 killed in Libya after
Islamic State issues video
February 15/15
CAIRO (Reuters) – Islamic State released a video on Sunday purporting to show
the beheading of a group of Egyptian Christians kidnapped in Libya, violence
likely to deepen Cairo’s concerns over security threats from militants thriving
in the neighboring country’s chaos.
Egypt’s state news agency MENA quoted the spokesman for the Coptic Church as
confirming that 21 Egyptian Christians believed to be held by Islamic State were
dead. In the video, militants in black marched the captives, dressed in orange
jump suits, to a beach the group said was near Tripoli. They were forced down
onto their knees, then beheaded.
The video appeared on the Twitter feed of a website that supports Islamic State,
which has seized parts of Iraq and Syria and has also beheaded Western hostages.
A caption on the five-minute video read: “The people of the cross, followers of
the hostile Egyptian church.”
Thousands of Egyptians have traveled to Libya in search of jobs since an
uprising at home in 2011, despite advice from their government not to go to a
country sliding into lawlessness.
Before the killings, one of the militants stood with a knife in his hand and
said: “Safety for you crusaders is something you can only wish for.”
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called a seven-day mourning period and an urgent
meeting of Egypt’s top military commanders, state television reported. The
Coptic Church said it was confident the Cairo government would seek justice. Al
Azhar, the center of Islamic learning in Egypt, said no religion would accept
such “barbaric” acts. The families of the kidnapped workers had urged Cairo to
help secure their release. In the southerly Minya Governorate, relatives
screamed and fainted upon hearing news of the deaths.
CONCERNS ABOUT LIBYA
Sisi has repeatedly expressed concerns about militants based in Libya who are
seeking to topple his government.
Those militants have made contact with Sinai Province, a group operating from
Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula that has changed its name from Ansar Beyt al-Maqdis and
pledged allegiance to Islamic State.The group has killed hundreds of Egyptian
soldiers and police since the army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in
2013 after mass protests against his rule.
With Libya caught in a chaotic power struggle between two rival factions
operating their own governments, Western officials fear Islamist militants are
taking advantage of the turmoil to strengthen their presence. A number of
Islamist militant groups have been active since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in
2011 left Libya without a strong central government. A few have declared ties to
the radical Islamic State and claimed high-profile attacks over recent weeks in
what appears to be an intensifying campaign.
Last month, Islamic State claimed responsibility when at least two gunmen
stormed into the five-star Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, killing nine people,
including an American security contractor and a Frenchman. Fears that the crisis
in neighboring Libya could spill across the border have prompted Egypt to
upgrade its military hardware. French President Francois Hollande has said Egypt
will order 24 Rafale fighter jets, a naval frigate and related military
equipment in a deal to be signed in Cairo on Monday worth more than 5 billion
euros ($5.7 billion).