The Islamist movement in on the move in Tunisia – a country that once boasted on being the most tolerant Muslim country in North Aftrica.
Not any more.
Fr. Marek Marius Rybinski – a Polish Salesian missionary – was found dead last Friday in the parking lot of the local Salesian school. His throat was slit.
Da Mihi Animas reported:
A Catholic bishop in Tunisia expressed fear of growing Islamic extremism in the area after a 34 year-old Polish missionary priest was found brutally killed on Feb. 18.
As local protests took place in the wake the murder, Archbishop Lahham Marun Elias of Tunis told Vatican Radio on Feb. 19 that he believes “an Islamic movement” directed against “all non-Muslims” is growing in influence within the country.
The body of Fr. Marek Marius Rybinski – a Polish Salesian missionary – was discovered last Friday in the parking lot of the local Salesian school, which is located in the Tunis suburb of Manouma. Although the Associated Press reported that his throat was slit, the Vatican-based Fides news agency stated that the priest was beheaded.
Over the weekend, hundreds participated in demonstrations including students from the school and their parents, who mourned the priest’s untimely death and brought photographs, cards and flowers to the school in remembrance. On Feb. 18, Archbishop Lahham presided over a Mass in honor of Fr. Rybinski at the Cathedral of Tunis.
This is the second Brother found dead recently in this period marked by social unrest in Tunisia and the rest of North Africa.
