■ Father Boulos Fouad: the reasons for the kidnapping the monk are unknown and Sudanese government is doing its best to free him
■ The monk is Sudanese and follows the Coptic Church and became a monk at St. Anthony monastery in Khartoum
The Coptic Church in Sudan disclosed the details of kidnapping monk Gabriel Al-Antony in the Sudanese town Nyala, the monk serve at Virgin Mary Church, which is located in Darfur. The monk in from Egyptian origin but has Sudanese citizenship, and he is one of the monks of St. Anthony and St. Moussa ElAswad monastery in Khartoum and was mandated by Bishop Ellia Bishop of Khartoum.
Father Boulos Fouad priest of the Coptic Church, in Khartoum said “we all were surprised by the news of kidnapping the monk while he was in a farm belonging to the church in Nyala, southern state of northern Sudan, as three unidentified persons tied the monk brother, and kidnapped the monk and fled without knowing the reasons for kidnapping him or those who stand behind the incident, information is still missing.
He added that his Eminence Bishop Ellia is closely following up the case with the Sudanese government, which do not spare effort and is cooperating very well, and he said that within hours the monk will return. HG Bishop Ellia is asking the congregation and reporters not to escalate the situation because the government is doing its best and this is the first incident that happen to a monk from the Coptic Orthodox Church.
