Bishop Marqus of Shubrā al-Khaymah, the chairman of the Coptic Orthodox Church Holy Synod’s Information Committee, said the country is already groaning, rejecting calls to start civil disobedience in protest at the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF)’s continuation in power.

“We have to work harder in order to push forward the national economy. We have to avoid disruption of work inside hospitals and government institutions because only Egyptian citizens will pay the price for this,” said Bishop Marqus.

Father Rafīq Greish, the official spokesman for the Coptic Catholic Church, said the church would not encourage or prevent its youths from participating in the protests, underlining, however, the importance of working hard and cooperating in the coming stage now that the timetable to hand over power to a civilian authority is proceeding with steady steps.

Rev. Rif’at Fikrī, the chairman of the information committee of the Coptic Evangelical churches in Cairo, said he is in favor of sit-ins and strikes in principle.

“The objectives of the revolution have not been achieved one year after the January 25, 2011 revolution. Both SCAF and the People’s Assembly are not responding positively to the demands of the protesters,” said Fikrī.

The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) announced plans to participate in the Feb. 11 general strike with all national and revolutionary powers to “complete all demands of the revolution”.

“We’re taking part in the strike because the demands of the revolution would not be met before SCAF quits and immediate transfer of power to civilians and election of a president are in place,” said Hānī Ramsīs, a member of the MYU Executive Office.

A leading member of the MYU, Andrews ‘Uwaydah, called for restructuring the interior ministry, the “prime suspect involved in the Port Said football massacre” and the official mass media, the “top instigator against the (al-Ahlī) Ultras” in order to be expressive of the Egyptian people and their revolution.

‘Uwaydah also called for sacking the public prosecutor, who, he said, is the “judicial yes-man of the former regime”.