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New Coptic pope says Egyptian constitution should not be Islamic
November 06, 2012
The newly elected leader of Egypt’s Copts has warned that Christians will oppose any attempt to inject Islamic law into the country’s constitution.
Pope Tawadros II, who was selected on November 4, said that the Christian minority in Egypt is poised to assume a larger public role under the country’s new government. The regime of the deposed President Hosni Mubarak, he said, had minimized the Copts’ involvement. “After tens of years of marginalization and fake democracy, this has made some Copts isolated,” he said.
Violence against Copts has increased, however, since the “Arab Spring” uprising that led to Mubarak’s replacement. Pope Tawadros said that the current leader, President Mohammed Morsi, should respond forcefully against the threats to Christians.
Regarding the prospect of Islamic law, the Coptic leader said: “Any additions or hints that make the constitution religious will not be acceptable, not only to Copts but to many sectors in society."
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Further information:
- Egypt's new pope opposes religious constitution (AP)
- Coptic Orthodox Church elects new pope (CWN, 11/5)
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Posted by: Justin8110 -
Nov. 07, 2012 8:36 AM ET USA
The persecution of Copts have been going on for not just ten years but for literaly centuries. Who'd have thought that at one time Alexandria was a center of Christian theology. Egypt was Christian long before the false religion of Islam spread itself like an infernal blanket across the Egyptian desert.