ISIS-linked group in Egypt claims execution of Coptic Christian, 2 others
April 19, 2021, 9:51 am

ISIS-linked group in Egypt claims execution of Coptic Christian, 2 others

Pope Tawadros II, the 118th pope of the Coptic Church of Egypt, leads a mass for the Egyptian Christians who were killed in Libya, at St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. (File photo: AP)

An ISIS-affiliated group claimed the execution of a Coptic Christian and two tribesmen in Egypt’s restive Sinai, in a video posted on its Telegram channel. Coptic Christian

The Coptic Church, which makes up between 10 and 15 percent of Egypt’s 100-million population, Sunday named the Christian killed as Nabil Habashi Salama.

He kept the faith till the moment he was killed... The church affirms its steadfast support of the Egyptian state’s efforts in quelling hateful terror acts,” the group Sinai Province said in a statement.

In a 13-minute video released late Saturday, the 62-year-old Copt from Bir al-Abd in North Sinai is shot dead at point-blank range by a militant flanked by two others carrying rifles.

“As for you Christians of Egypt, this is the price you are paying for supporting the Egyptian army,” the militant who executes the man says in the video.

Two young Sinai tribesmen are also seen being killed in a barren, desert landscape, with the militants accusing them of fighting alongside the Egyptian military. Coptic Christian

A decade-old hardened, insurgency in North Sinai escalated in 2013 when the army overthrew Egypt’s elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Most attacks have been staged in the Sinai Peninsula but they have also used the territory as a launchpad to strike elsewhere in Egypt.

In February 2018, the government launched a nationwide operation against militants focused on North Sinai.

The army says some 970 suspected militants have been killed in the ongoing security campaign.

But the region has remained largely cut off to journalists, making the compilation of independent casualty figures almost impossible. Coptic Christian

source: AFP

Image source: AP

Levant

Dubai ruler’s Ramadan food drive expands operations to 10 more countries Syria’s currency improves after central bank raises exchange rate

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”