Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Fāyqah Kamāl Butrus, 60 years old, declared that she and her husband Fatḥī Maqār, 80 years old, decided to donate their flat to the Coptic Orthodox Church after their death.

The couple has no children. They donated their flat to the church to ensure the latter’s care and attention during their old age.

Two weeks after the couple’s declaration to the church, the priest of al-Matarīyah called the husband and made him unconsciously fingerprint a contract according to which he sold the flat to the church.

Some days later, the couple came home to find their furniture on the street and strangers in their flat. Following a quarrel between the couple and the newcomers, the husband was hit by a sharp instrument and was hospitalized after registering the accident at the police station.

The couple had ended up homeless under a bridge before a Coptic man took pity on them and rented them a house for 250 Egyptian pounds.

The man took them to Bishop Timothaous who allegedly scorned them and accused them of being mentally disturbed.

Consequently, they filed two claims; one against the priest, Yūḥannā and the other against the bishop. [Reviewer: No full names mentioned].

After the claim, the al-Maṭarīyah priest contacted them and offered them 6500 Egyptian pounds in compensation. They refused and asked for the return of their flat. They tried to complain to Pope Shenouda, but this proved impossible due to the latter’s illness.