Naga Hammadi security forces released a suspect accused of kidnapping a Coptic teenager on LE100 bail Wednesday.
Refaat Farag alleged that his 15-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by a Muslim man to force her to marry him and then blackmail the family for money, according to a report police filed with the head of Qena security.
Dozens of Copts had gathered at Naga Hammadi Police Station, while dozens of Muslims gathered at the prosecution building as Farag filed a report.
Police later arrested the suspect, but following investigations, prosecutors claimed the daughter was in a relationship with the man, had agreed to marry and was aware he had asked her father to pay LE400,000.
She then returned home and said the man kidnapped her, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutors released her after the family vowed not to hurt her, and ordered police to take measures to protect her.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
