Coptic Catholic Church opposes death penalty for Morsi
May 19, 2015
An Egyptian court has sentenced Mohamed Morsi, who served as the nation’s president from 2012 to 2013, to death.
The sentence will be confirmed or commuted on June 2, according to the Fides news agency.
Violence against Christians increased during the rule of Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood who was elected to office following the Arab Spring protests that toppled the regime of Hosni Mubarak.
“The reaction of the Islamists has already taken violent connotations, while the population seems to support the judgment,” said Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos William Samaan. “The people have not forgotten the suffering endured when Morsi was president.”
“The Church respects the independence of the judiciary, but believes that life is an inviolable right, and remains opposed to the death penalty,” he added.
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Further information:
- Morsi condemned to death. Coptic Catholic Bishop: "the Church never justifies death penalty for anyone" (Fides)
- US 'deeply concerned' by Egypt's death penalty decision for Mohamed Morsi (The Guardian)
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