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Egypt monk detained over murder of bishop
CAIRO, Aug 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – An Egyptian Coptic monk accused of murder
has been detained and will remain in custody for four days pending
investigations into the suspicious death of a bishop, his lawyer said
Saturday.
Bishop Epiphanius, 68, was the head of Saint Macarius monastery in Wadi
el-Natrun, northwest of Cairo.
His body was found in late July in a corridor of the monastery with
injuries to the head, according to the church.
Isaiah al-Makari “was presented yesterday (Friday) to the prosecutor’s
office (in Alexandria) and was informed for the first time of the murder
charge against him”, lawyer Amir Nassif told AFP.
Nassif said he expected Makari’s detention to be extended for another 15
days.
Following the death of the bishop, the church announced a series of
restrictive measures related to the activities of the monks.
The monks were given a month to disable all of their social media
accounts, according to state media.
Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II also closed his official Facebook page.
The new measures suggest the existence of dissension within the church
that could be tied to the bishop’s murder
Church authorities have remained silent on the matter.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0827 hrs