Coptic Orthodox leader urges support for Sisi

September 22, 2016

The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church called upon Coptic Christians in the United States to show their support for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as he traveled to New York for a UN meeting.

Pope Tawadros II asked Copts to offer “their warm welcome with respect, honor and dignity.” The Egyptian prelate said that this was not a question of Church interference in political affairs, but an "act of patriotism" to help "present the new Egypt" to the outside world.

The Fides news agency reported that hundreds of Coptic Christians showed their support for Sisi outside UN headquarters on September 20.

In 2013, Sisi, then the nation’s defense minister, helped overthrow President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The following year, Sisi was elected president.

 

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Further information:

• Hundreds of Copts at the pro-Sisi demonstration outside the UN headquarters (Fides)
• Patriarch Tawadros supports the demonstration of the Copts pro-Sisi convened in New York (Fides)
• Patriarch Tawadros: the invitation to support President al Sisi is not political interference, but "patriotism" (Fides)