Following its extraordinary session late last evening, the Melli (Community) Council of the Coptic Orthodox Church decided to withdraw the Church representatives from the constituent assembly tasked with drafting the Constitution
Following its extraordinary session late last evening, the Melli (Community) Council of the Coptic Orthodox Church decided to withdraw the Church representatives from the constituent assembly tasked with drafting the Constitution.
The Melli Council had convened upon the request of the acting patriarch, Anba Pachomius, to decide on Coptic participation in the constituent assembly which has been harshly criticised for being dominated by the Islamist majority MPs.
The council issued a statement which said, “In response to the strong sentiment prevailing on the Egyptian street in general and the Coptic in specific, the Council announces the non-participation of anyone representing it in the constituent assembly. In collaboration with the national forces and al-Azhar, the Melli Council has decided to withdraw Coptic representatives from membership of the constituent assembly, which should never be dominated by a specific current but should rather represent all Egyptians.”
The constitution, the statement insisted, should be drafted through national dialogue and consensus, not through the parliamentary majority.
WATANI International
2 April 2012