By Libya Herald staff.
Cairo, 19 January 2015:
Protesting that their abducted relatives have been forgotten and that the international community does not care, family . . .[restrict]members of the more than 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians kidnapped in Libya protested today in front of the UN building in Cairo demanding action. They appealed not only to the UN, but also to the Arab League and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
Demonstrators held up signs saying, “Egypt, the voice of your abducted sons is calling to you,” and “The international community neglects its responsibility to protect human beings.”
Trouble broke out when a number of the demonstrators tried to get into the UN building to present a petition outlining their deep concerns and begging the UN to get involved.
According to Egyptian media, a number of the families met the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s spokesman and the Egyptian Ambassador to Libya. Both assured them that Egyptian authorities are trying to work with Libyan tribal leaders to negotiate the release and return of the kidnapped Copts.
The Islamic State in Libya has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of some of the Egyptians. It is unclear exactly how many are currently missing because new reports of abductions have at times included names or numbers of some whose seizure had been reported already. [/restrict]