Dr. Mahmūd al-Saqā, the al-Wafd Party candidate for the Duqqī district, visited the Bishop Antonius Church in response to the visit of Āmāl ‘Uthmān, his NDP competitor. In response to Āmāl’s claims of al-Saqā being a secret member of the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Saqā said that he is a liberal and has always been close to Copts. He also accused her of stirring fitnah tā’ifīyah with her comments. Bishop Īlīyā confirmed that the Church has no intentions in interfering in parliamentary rivalries.

Key Words: Dr. Mahmūd al-Saqā – Dr. Āmāl ‘Uthmān – Bishop Īlīyā – Pope Shenouda III