International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, #941
Washington, DC 20006
301-585-5915 ♦ [email protected]
PETITION CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESCUE AND RELEASE OF NOURA YOUSEF
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
3521 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008
August 24, 2016
President Sisi,
It is with great concern that we petition the government of Egypt to immediately launch an investigation and rescue operation aimed at
securing the release of Noura Yousef, a 20-year-old Coptic Christian woman and wife abducted on April 20 in Luxor, Egypt. Four months
after her abduction Noura’s whereabouts remain unknown and local authorities refuse to investigate the case, despite being presented with
evidence that could lead to her release. Tragically, Noura’s is one of just many recent kidnappings targeting the Coptic Christian community
of Egypt.
On the afternoon of April 20, 2016, at 3:30 PM, Noura Youssef left her home in Luxor to visit her parents. A few hours later her husband,
Amgad Romany, attempted to call her. Unable to reach her, Mr. Romany called Noura’s parents, who reported that Noura had never arrived
at their house. Mr. Romany and Noura’s family immediately began searching for her, but without success. They then attempted to file a
missing person’s report with local authorities, who initially refused. Later, Mr. Romany learned from a neighbor that a man by the name of
Moustafa Sayed had been seen following Noura when she left the house. Mr. Sayed had previously been involved in numerous incidents of
harassment against Noura, including asking her to marry him, despite her marriage to Mr. Romany.
On April 21, Noura’s husband returned to the police where he filed a missing person’s report. However, the police refused to include the
information that was presented regarding Mr. Moustafa Sayed. In the months since, Noura’s husband reports that the police have not been
investigating this case, explicitly citing Mr. Romany’s Christian beliefs as justification for not providing greater assistance.
Unfortunately, the practice of targeting and abducting young Coptic women and girls, who are then frequently forced into marriage and
summarily converted to Islam, is not unusual. In the past six months alone, International Christian Concern has documented 17 abductions of
Coptic women and girls, some as young as 16. Families who turn to local authorities for support are often rebuffed and some never see their
loved ones again. In some cases local authorities side with the abductees, claiming that the victim chose to leave their family and ignoring
past evidence, as in Noura’s case, of repeated threats and harassment. In a few cases, the victims escape and live to relay stories of abuse,
rape, and forced conversions. No Egyptian citizen should be made to fear an abduction, and especially not on the basis of their religious
beliefs. In addition, no criminal should be able to enjoy impunity for these crimes. Strong law enforcement and prosecution is necessary to
curb these crimes and bring justice to the victims.
Mr. President, no Egyptian citizen should fear abduction, forced marriage and rape, and forced conversion to another faith, simply because
they are members of a vulnerable religious minority. These atrocious kidnappings violate every standard of human decency as well as
numerous international legal agreements to which Egypt is a signatory. The signers of this petition urge you and your government in the
strongest possible terms to immediately direct local and national law enforcement officials to investigate Noura’s abduction and the many
other cases like hers, and to fully prosecute those responsible for these heinous acts. We commend you for your promise earlier this year to
seek justice for the Christians who were attacked in Minya Province on May 20, and we encourage you to do the same in these cases. Justice
for Noura and the many other victims like her will send a signal to the world that your administration is truly determined to protect every
Egyptian, regardless of their faith.
Sincerely,
International Christian Concern (and attached)
CC:
Secretary of State John Kerry
Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Democratic Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Congressman Eliot Engel, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs