Members of the Muslim Brotherhood will meet with Coptic youth in the near future in an attempt to explain the Islamist group's views, according to Brotherhood spokesperson Essam al-Arian. The meeting is aimed at addressing fears springing from the belief that the Brotherhood may come to dominate the political arena in the upcoming period.
Al-Arian told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the Brotherhood "will meet with Coptic youth soon, and a possible meeting between the Brotherhood and the church is still being considered.”
He went on to say the objective is "for each party to explain its point of view as well as its fears.”
A church source told Al-Masry Al-Youm last week that Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie had launched an initiative to engage in a dialogue with Coptic youth, especially motivated by fears that the Brotherhood may be gaining power in Egypt.
The Coptic Youth Movement, meanwhile, rejected the initiative and Pope Shenouda III denied that Badie had launched any such initiative.
The Coptic Church and the Muslim Brotherhood have expressed opposing views on the constitutional amendments passed in last Saturday's referendum. While the church rejected the amendments — which leave intact an article citing Islam as Egypt's national religion — the Brotherhood campaigned for their acceptance.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
