Following several meetings between the acting patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Anba Pachomeus, and political and religious leaders in Egypt to discuss the Church’s stance regarding the second article in Egypt’s constitution
Following several meetings between the acting patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Anba Pachomeus, and political and religious leaders in Egypt to discuss the Church’s stance regarding the second article in Egypt’s constitution. Anba Pachomeus last Sunday paid a visit to the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) Mohamed Badie at the headquarters of the MB Guidance Bureau in Muqattam, east of Cairo.
Accompanying Anba Pachomeus were Bishop-General Anba Ermiya, Bishop of Qous and Naqada Anba Pimen, and Dr Makram William. From the MB side, MB secretary-general, Mohamed Hussein, MP Helmy al-Gazzar, member of the Guidance Bureau Karem Radwan, and Badie’s media consultant Walid Shalaby, attended the meeting.
According to Anba Pachomeus’ secretary Fr Angelius Ishaq, Badie stressed during the meeting that Egypt can only develop and progress through the joint efforts of its Muslims and Copts, and that there can be no marginalisation or discrimination based on creed, colour or gender.
They both agreed during the meeting that it was very important to organise common communal activities between Copts and Muslims, with the aim of fostering better coexistence.
The controversial second article in the 1971 constitution, which is now suspended while a new constitution is being written, stipulates that the principles of Islamic sharia are the major source of legislation. Hardline Islamists have been calling for the deletion of the word “principles”, a move which if passed has the potential of hurling Egypt into a legislative quagmire since Islamic sharia is interpreted differently by the various schools of Islamic interpretation. News have been circulating that al-Azhar, the topmost Islamic institution in the world, has persuaded the hardline Salafis on the constituent assembly which is writing the new constitution to agree to maintain the second article unchanged, but that the Salafis have asked, to refrain from describing Egypt as a “civic State” in return.
The Church, for its part, has been demanding that the second article should remain unchanged, but that the clause “while non-Muslims have the right to be judged according to their own doctrines where family affairs and practice of religious rites are concerned” should be added to it.
Watani International
10 July 2012