Prosecutors in Egypt have charged a defrocked monk with the murder of a Coptic Christian Bishop at a desert monastery.
Bishop Epiphanius, 64, was found dead in a pool of blood at Saint Macarius Monastery in Wadi Natroun, north-west of Cairo, on 29 July.
Wael Saad, who had been a monk at the monastery, reportedly told prosecutors he used an iron pole to bludgeon the bishop to death.
The possible motive is not yet clear.
The murder of Bishop Epiphanius shocked the Coptic Church, whose adherents make up about 10% of Egypt’s population.
Wael Saad, who as a monk was known as Isaiah al-Makari, was stripped of his religious title following the bishop’s death.
The church initially said it was because he had been investigated over long-standing violations of his duties.
Categories: Africa, Arab World, Egypt, North Africa