Egypt ‘closely’ following investigation into killing of three Egyptian monks in South Africa

Ahram Online , Wednesday 13 Mar 2024

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is “closely” following the investigation into the killing of three Egyptian monks at a Coptic monastery of Saint Mark the Apostle and Saint Samuel the Confessor in the South African city of Johannesburg.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs HQ in Cairo. Photo: Al-Ahram

In a statement on Wednesday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said members of the Egyptian Embassy in Pretoria, including Ambassador Ahmed El-Fadly, visited the monastery following direct communication with the leadership of the Investigations and Criminal Evidence Sector of the South African Police Ministry, which promptly began investigating the incident.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church announced that the attack resulted in the death of Monk Hegumen Takla El-Samuely (deputy of the Coptic Diocese of South Africa), Monk Yostos Ava Markos, and Monk Mina Ava Markos.

The embassy is “closely following up on the investigation to uncover the circumstances of the incident and the identity of the perpetrators, and to hold them accountable,” read the foreign ministry's statement.

The ministry extended its deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

In a statement on Tuesday, Egypt’s Al-Azhar condemned "the terrorist attack," offering its sincerest condolences to the families of the victims.

“Attacking a safe person in a place of worship is a hateful terrorist act and there can never be a justification for murder and terrorism,” the statement quoted Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Al-Azhar grand imam, as saying.