A Christian man in Egypt's turbulent North Sinai has been shot and killed by militants in his barber's shop.
The man has been named by International Christian Concern as Nabeel Saber Fawzi, 40. He was murdered by masked men in the town of El-Arish, from which he and his family, along with many other Christians, fled in February following a spate of murders.
He returned to the town to reopen his shop, leaving his wife and two children in Port Said, because he could not find work there, according to a relative.
The relative told ICC: 'He was opening his barbershop from time to time over the last 10 days. On Saturday, May 6, four masked gunmen broke into his shop and shot him in the head resulting in immediate death.'
Islamic State and its affiliates have been responsible for scores of murders aimed at driving Christians out of north Sinai. Fawzi's was the eighth in El-Arish this year.
It follows the bombing of two churches on Palm Sunday which saw at least 45 deaths and 126 people injured.
William Stark, ICC's regional manager, said: 'We are deeply concerned for the developing situation in Egypt. This year has already been a difficult year for many Christians in Egypt, especially those displaced by the El-Arish murders and those affected by the Palm Sunday bombings.
'Unfortunately, many of the Christian families displaced from El-Arish find themselves in situations similar to Nabeel. Cut off from their homes and livelihoods, many are finding it difficult to provide for themselves. More has to be done by Egypt's authorities to confront ISIS and secure Christian communities across Egypt. Until then, it is likely we will continue to see attacks on Christians and their places of worship.'
