In another opinion piece in al-Misrī al-Yawm, Hilmī al-Namnam says Mubārak’s Egypt used to wash its hands of many responsibilities towards the citizens and in this sense one can understand how the state abandoned Coptic citizens for the church and Pope Shenouda.

This position was the source of some Copts’ vexation over the church and the patriarch while some Egyptians were of the view that the pope was establishing a state within the state.

Pope Shenouda has endured much negligence and shortcomings by the state during the Mubārak era.

In 2002, when there were plans to enact a law for the protection of religious minorities, the pope strongly rejected it and stated that Copts definitely suffer problems in Egypt but there is no racist stance targeting Christians in the country.

The numerous attitudes good attitudes in favor of Egypt and Egyptians by His Eminence Pope Shenouda are really worthy of contemplation and remembering during the days to come. [Hilmī al-Namnam, al-Misrī al-Yawm, March 21, p. 17] Read original text in Arabic