Coptic Church: Pope has not withdrawn his call to end Protests

Emad Khalil
Fatma Abo Shanab
16/05/2011

Bishop Moussa, the Coptic Orthodox Church’s bishop for youth, has denied earlier reports that Pope Shenouda III has withdrawn his call for Copts to end their protest before the Egyptian Radio and Television Union building on the Maspero Corniche.

He said the Pope’s statement to end the protest was issued in writing and bears the church’s seal.

“Those who know the pope know that he does not go back on his words,” Moussa said.

Bishop Youannes, the pope’s secretary, agreed with Moussa. “The pope fears the protesters might be harmed,” he said.

Clashes erupted with the protesters on Saturday evening, when 22 people assaulted them, fired at them with shotguns and threw Molotov cocktails, wounding 36 protesters, two of whom are in a critical condition in Nasser Hospital.

Police arrested 21 of the attackers on charges of rioting and destroying property.

Translated from the Arabic Edition

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