The three Christian denominations of Egypt have welcomed recent statements of Muslim Brotherhood General Guide Mohamed Badie, in which he reassured Christians that their interests will be safeguarded.
“It is a good step towards positive integration between the different sects of Egyptian society,” said Andria Zaki, vice president of the Evangelical Church. “I hope this is guaranteed in the new constitution.”
Zaki also hoped that any legislation passed by parliament would be in the interests of the nation as a whole, and not a particular segment of society.
“And I hope that qualification [for the job] will be the criteria for ministerial-level appointments, not religion,” he said.
He also called for a unified discourse by all leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. “When they issue conflicting statements people get confused,” he said.
Badie’s statement was also welcomed by Joseph Malak, a member of the Alexandria Orthodox Church.
However, Bishop Morcos, the bishop of Shubra, and Rafiq Greish, spokesman of the Catholic Church, said they want deeds, not words.
Meanwhile, Naguib Gabriel, head of the Egyptian Union for Human Rights Organizations, has announced the formation of a committee of 100 Coptic activists and expatriates to monitor the future of Coptic Christians in Egypt after the revolution.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
