Four Coptic Egyptians detained by Libyan authorities for several weeks over charges of spreading Christianity have returned home.
According to a statement Tuesday, the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli had worked closely with its Libya counterparts to negotiate their release.
One of the men returned on Monday, while the remaining three are arriving on Tuesday evening.
A fifth suspect had also been arrested on the same charges, but died while detained in a Tripoli prison.
Egyptian Copts have had a turbulent time in Libya in recent years. In March, Libyan authorities arrested dozens of Copts in Benghazi on charges related to their missionary activities. An Egyptian Coptic church in Benghazi was also recently assaulted by unknown attackers, but no injuries were reported.
In December 2012, an attack on a Coptic church in Misrata killed two.
Edited translation from MENA
