Libyan security officials say seven Egyptian Coptic Christian men have been shot on a beach outside the city of Benghazi.
Middle East Concern reports the victims “had been abducted from their homes”. The news report says the gunmen had gone door-to-door through an apartment building searching for residents who were Christian.
Morning Star News reports an Islamist militia behind prior attacks in Libya is thought to be responsible for the shootings.
According to the news report the militia, Ansar al-Sharia has offered a reward to residents who help them identify the rest of the Christians in the city.
Alarabiya reports Egypt expects a quick investigation from Libyan authorities into the shootings.
Alarabiya quotes a foreign ministry spokesman as denouncing the shootings as “heinous” and Cairo expects [Tripoli] to hand the latest results of its investigation as soon as possible and bring those accused to justice.”
Libya has become very hostile to Christians. Proselytization for any religion other than Islam is punishable by death in this nation.
Foreign workers in the country are subject to hostility and violence.
In December, American Christian Ronnie Smith was shot and killed in Benghazi. He had been working as a Chemistry teacher in this area.
Religion News Service reports, two Christians were killed in September of last year in northeastern Libya after they refused forced conversions.
Last February an American citizen and three other foreign Christians were arrested and charged with distributing Christian materials.
Christianity Today also reported that last March, nearly 50 Egyptian Christians were arrested and accused of attempting to evangelize Muslims.
Open Doors World Watch List moved Libya from 17th last year to 13th this year.
Barnabas Fund reports the future of Libya’s Christians is very insecure. Barnabas Fund reports the majority of Christians in Libya until 2011, were foreigners, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa. Barnabas Fund reports many of the expatriate Christians fled the country after the revolution that forced Muammar Gaddafi from power.
Barnabas Fund reports there are very few local Christians in Libya, and all of them are converts from Islam who often suffer very severe persecution from their families when they convert to Christianity.
The draft constitution makes Islam the religion of the state, and Sharia law the principal source of legislation. The draft constitution also gives non-Muslims the freedom to practice their religion and outlaws discrimination based on religion.
Todd Nettleton is director of media development with Voice of the Martyrs. He says since Islamic law will be the source of legislation, Libyan Christians should be concerned. “What’s going to happen to those people who used to be Muslims who are now following Jesus Christ in Libya? The law says those people are apostates and should be killed.”
Nettleton says Christians are asking important questions. “How is this fair? How is this democracy if all of the laws, all of the rules, are based on one religion and not open to the others? Many Christians feel promises of democracy after President Qaddafi’s fall have been broken.
Open Doors reports under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, conditions for Christians were extremely difficult. Christians were constant targets of the Libyan secret police who enforced restrictions on church meetings and distribution of any Christian literature. Under Gaddafi’s rule, foreigners living in the country were allowed churches, but Libyans were not allowed to attend.
After the death of Gaddafi, the National Transitional Council took over. The council has announced it wants to implement Sharia law. Under this legislation all citizens of Libya are considered Sunni Muslim.
Religion News Service quotes the Rev. Celso Larracas, a priest at St. Francis Catholic Church in Tripoli as saying only a small number of Libyans are pushing for Sharia, or Islamic law.
“I think many Libyans want to co-exist with foreigners,” Larracas said.”
Most of Libya’s Christian population is made up of foreigners working in the country. Before the fall of the Gaddhafi regime, there were an estimated 30,000 Libyan Coptic Christians and 80,00 Roman Catholics. There are also a small number of Anglicans and Pentecostals.
Christian groups in Libya also run hospitals and education centers open to all faiths.
Larracas said although foreign Christians are facing persecution, Libya does need their professional skills.
Larracas said the foreigners are doing most of the professional work in the country, especially in the oil industry.
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