Islamists in Benghazi continue their hunt for Christian workers in Libya, accusing them of proselytizing. The latest case involves the arrest of 48 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox traders who were arrested last week in Benghazi. They were detained after some Libyans complained about the religious symbols on the traders' stalls and signs in the Benghazi market. In a video footage that was immediately confiscated by police, the Christians are seen locked in a small room guarded by men with beards characteristic of Salafists. From the pictures, the 48 Christians appear to be in poor physical condition, and many have bruises and scratches. They had all had their hair shaved off. This is according to the news media Asia News.
The case has caused an uproar among the people of Benghazi, who in October counterattacked the Salafist militias accused of masterminding the attack on the US embassy in which Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed. On March 1, authorities issued a statement explaining that the street vendors were arrested for immigration violations and not for religious reasons. However, this is just the latest in a series of cases of discrimination against Christians in Libya. In mid-February, four foreigners - an Egyptian, a South African, a South Korean and a Swede on a US passport - were arrested on charges of distributing Bibles and other materials.
The spread of Islamist extremism is also affecting Catholic orders that have been present in Libya for decades, providing nursing and care for the elderly. Last January, Islamists forced sisters from two orders from the cities of Barce and Beida to flee the country, and in October, a third order, this time from the city of Derna, had to leave Libya due to repeated threats from Islamist extremists, despite protests from the city's citizens.
