Anba Bishoi, Metropolitan of Damietta and Kafr al-Sheikh, denied statements attributed to him on social media claiming he had said that “girls who wear anklets deserve to be dragged in the streets”. Anba Bishoi said this was totally untrue and was meant to hurt the Church.
The Metropolitan said he never said anything relating to women’s dress since May 2012 when he had talked about the necessity of women dressing modestly especially when in church. This had brought about an outcry from Christian women who were upset at any hint that they dressed immodestly, upon which Anba Bishoi issued a statement to explain that he had meant no offence and to eliminate any misunderstanding.
Regarding the recent words attributed to him on social media, Anba Bishoi defied anyone to come up with evidence to prove the claim; “very simply,” he said, “because I never uttered such words.” He stressed that Christianity does not condone any form of corporal punishment, so no figure in the Church could ever prescribe “dragging in the streets”.
Watani International
1 October 2016