An Egyptian Christian army conscript has died in what his family believe are suspicious circumstances, according to World Watch Monitor.

Michael Gamal, 22, was due to finish his two-year compulsory military service this May, but his family were told in February he had committed suicide.

They had last heard from him on February 15. His brother Osama said: "As often, we talked over the phone. Michael was in good spirits. He was jesting and joking. He had a couple of months to go before his service was over."

However, he said, "When I called the next day, Michael, unusually, didn't respond."

He later received a phone call from his brother's phone telling him Michael was seriously injured. When he and other family members visited the camp where Michael was posted they were told he had killed himself.

At the hospital, an initial coroner report stated the cause of death as a "gunshot to the upper chest from close range". The body bore trauma marks to the forehead and right temple, they said.

The family say the military authorities tried to discourage them from having a post-mortem and that they lied about a family row.

Furthermore, said Osama Gamal, "There were no hospital admission papers, despite the claim that Michael had still been alive when brought to the hospital. Later, a lieutenant from Michael's unit, Lt Mohamed Medhat, tried to persuade us to immediately bury the body. He even said he'd fly the body on a military chopper and speed up all the necessary paperwork."

The family is convinced Michael did not kill himself and that further investigation is needed.

Coptic priest Fr Hydra Garas said: "While in his last unit, Michael complained of ill-treatment by fellow soldiers and some officers." However, he added: "Last time I saw him, he was happy. He said 'Father, it's almost over!'"

There have been previous reports of the ill-treatment of Christian conscripts in the Egyptian army and of Christians committing suicide. Four deaths have occurred in the army and police since June 2015 and there have been seven during the last decade. An Australian government report refers to allegations of ill-treatment and 'forced Islamization' among Christian conscripts, particularly in remote areas.