(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Pope Shenouda urged legislators to enact laws that accommodate all sectors of society without discrimination and indicated that national unity can be best achieved through unity in action, thought, and sentiment. He added that Muslim-Coptic unity must be reflected on the level of political parties.
Shenouda said although the state also has a duty to try to resolve the problems of Copts, problems are best solved with calm and communication, not with anger and emotions. Shenouda accused “elements and political bodies with certain orientations” of infiltrating Coptic protests to pursue their own interests.
In an interview with Egyptian Television on January 3, Shenouda said not all members of the recent Coptic protests were Copts and that several people have joined in the name of sympathy. “They have nothing to do with the problem, though,” he said.
Some of the slogans chanted were not proper and could not possibly be uttered by a well-mannered Christian or Muslim, Shenouda said.
“We cannot prevent people from expressing their sorrow, yet I ask them to express their feelings without violence. I am glad that many Muslims joined in the protests, which shows that all are against terrorism and sectarian violence.”
He said the attack has brought Egyptians together, and Egyptians must unite against the enemy that aims to weaken the Egyptians’ bonds.
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