A state of wrath prevailed inside St. Mark Cathedral in the Cairo district of al-'Abāsīyah after guard dogs, reportedly belonging to Bishop Yu'annis, Secretary of Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III, were used to intimidate protesters against Anbā Bola, the Chairman of the Clerical Council.
Young Copts said they were protesting against Anbā Bola for his refusal to issue marriage permits for them or endorse final court rulings granting divorce that were handed down on Monday (July 18).
Amidst large-scale criticism by Coptic bishops, lawyers and activists close to the cathedral to condemn decisions by the cathedral guards to unleash German shepherd dogs. However, sources from the Cathedral security denied that Anbā Yu'annis gave direct orders to use dogs to frighten the protesters.
The Cathedral, the see of Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch of Alexandria, declined to officially comment on the incident over instructions by Pope Shenouda to maintain the secrecy of anything that is happening inside the Cathedral.
Anbā Bola said the protesters are "nothing but negative outcome of the January 25 revolution," adding "police dogs were used against them without my knowledge."
The Cathedral has reported several protesters to the police, including Amīr Munīr Habīb and Mikhail Hakīm, both are sit-in organizers, accusing them of showing thuggish behavior, carrying weapons inside the Cathedral and intimidating the citizens.
