Reverend Samaan Shehata’s murderer tentatively sentenced to death

CAIRO – 15 November 2017: North Cairo Criminal court sentences Reverend Samaan Shehata’s murderer, Ahmed el-Sonbati, to death; referring the case to the Grand Mufti who has the final say in confirming the death sentence or annulling it.

Sonbati, 19, has been referred to the criminal court after he confessed to committing the crime; claiming that “Christians are infidels and killing them is a religious duty.” The General Prosecution said that he was not diagnosed with an apparent mental illness.

The priest was reportedly raising financial aid for his diocese when the killer followed him and eventually plunged a knife deep into his back, killing him.