The Province: Anti-Islam cleric with $60m bounty in Langley

One of the bravest men in the world: Father Zakaria Botros - Cr: Pastor Brian Zahnd

A controversial Christian cleric with a $60-million bounty on his head is in Vancouver.

Sources have told The Province that Father Zakaria Botros, a retired Coptic priest from Egypt, arrived at Vancouver International Airport Wednesday afternoon to little public fanfare -- but an RCMP presence.

Although he lives in exile in the U.S., Botros is little known in the West.

But he is the target of a fatwa and has been named Islam's "public enemy No. 1" by an Arabic newspaper for his fiery critiques of Islam, the Koran and the prophet Muhammad in a television show broadcast weekly on the Arabic-Christian channel al- Hayat or The Life.

Up to 60 million viewers in the Arab world -- as well as in Europe, Australia and North America -- tune in to Botros's show, Truth Talk, to listen to the outspoken cleric preach the gospel, according to World Magazine, which awarded Botros with the Daniel of the Year award in 2008. Read more...