Coptic Catholic leader blasts Egypt’s new constitution, fears ‘Islamic caliphate’
January 09, 2013
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The acting administrator of the Coptic Catholic Church said that Egypt’s new constitution “prepares the way for an Islamic caliphate.”
“We were waiting for a constitution that represents the whole of Egypt, but instead we have one that only represents one group of people,” said Bishop Kyrillos William Samaan of Assiut (Lycopolis). “We can see that the religious orientation of this constitution prepares the way for an Islamic caliphate.”
Cardinal Antonios Naguib, the church’s patriarch, suffered a stroke in December 2011, and Bishop William is serving as the patriarchate’s administrator.
“Everywhere in the constitution there are clauses saying everything should be in accordance with Islamic law,” Bishop William continued. “The president promised to build a civic, modern and democratic state, but we do not think that this constitution is in any way in accordance with that.”
“The constitution not only outlines the principles of sharia, but describes in detail all of the values and opinions contained in the sharia,” the prelate added. “It will be terrible: everything will be interpreted according to sharia.”
“The Islamists want to apply sharia law especially with regard to women,” said Bishop Youhannes Zakaria Badir of Luqsor (Luxor). “It is very bad for women and very bad for non-Muslims in society.”
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Posted by: Defender -
Jan. 09, 2013 4:04 PM ET USA
This is another example of how the Islamic extremists are becoming the norm and not the extreme in many regions of the world. Funny we don't hear any depth of "concern" from the United Nations - of course not, they are more concerned with gay-rights at the moment and "bad" regimes, such as Syria. Unfortunately an even "badder" regime will take its place when it falls and imposes sharia law there too. Christians are being forced out of their homes in Egypt and Syria - anyone see a trend?
