Egypt’s Coptic Church Pope Tawadros II advocates for civil and political rights

BEATRIZ SCHIAVA – 6/12/2012

The new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, said in an interview with the private TV station ONTV this Monday that “the constitution should be consensual,” looking for diversity, and should not be excessively religious, undeniably the constitution should protect all Egyptians. President Mohammed Morsi has called for a constitution based in Sharia Law. The concern of the Coptic Church is that if Sharia law is implemented it will oppress the Christian community even more, threatening their religious freedom, and their safety. Under Sharia law, Coptic Christians will continue being treated as second class citizens.

When asked about the political role of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II said the Church has no political role, but since the revolution of January 25, the Muslim and Coptic youth have joined political parties to express their demands to the state. He called on the community to participate in the political life of the country, encouraging young people with the words of the gospel “You are the salt of the earth,” and “You are the light of the world.” He has asked the youth to participate in the activities of universities and schools. Pope Tawadros II mentioned that the Copts were marginalized since 1952, but the revolution of January 25, has redefined the political situation of the Copts.

Pope Tawadros II replied to the question of how he would deal with the situation of the missing girl Sara Ishaq Abdel Malak, whose parents say she is only 14 years old. She disappeared on September 30, allegedly abducted by a Muslim and forced to marry. The Salafist Front argued that the girl converted to Islam and that she is not a minor. The parents have asked the government that the girl be returned to their custody as she is a minor, and that her abduction and early marriage violates Egyptian law and the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Pope Tawadros II stated that the girl should be returned to her parents because she is a minor, regardless of the alleged conversion to Islam.

However, there is a long list history of Coptic Christian women and children frequently kidnapped, and according to Lord David Alton, co-founder of the human rights organization Jubilee Campaign:

Churches have been burn, there’ve been a lot of killings, women have been raped, people’s property has been confiscated-all sorts of things have taken place. It’s one of the reasons why a hundred thousand Coptic Christians have fled the country.

On September 15, Coptic families were forced to leave their houses and businesses in Rafah for fear of violence. People posted flyers that ask them to leave, purely because they are Christians. President Morsi denies that Coptic Christians are persecuted.

Pope Tawadros II, is signaling that the Christian community expects to participate more in the political and civil life of Egypt and in a bold move he is sending the message to his congregation and to the state, that the Coptic Church will not accept the marginalization and subjugation that the community has lived with in the past. Thus, Pope Tawadros II, emphasizes the idea that a secular constitution be drafted with the participation of all, giving his community religious freedom and equal citizens’ rights.

Source: