Coptic movements were split over dialogue with the Brotherhood as Sharīf Dūs, Chairman of the General Coptic Organization in Egypt, said the GCOE welcomes dialogue with the FJP, the Brotherhood’s political arm, because it is a political party, adding his organization had already held three meetings with the FJP in June and July 2011.

Hānī Ramsīs, a member of the Maspero Youth Union’s executive office, requested “clear-cut stances” by the Brotherhood regarding citizenship rights and acceptance of other groups as well as representation of Copts in the 100-memebr panel that would prepare a new constitution for Egypt.

Midhat Qilādah, Chairman of the European Union of Coptic Organizations, rejected any dialogue with the Brotherhood on the grounds that “they are similar to the (dissolved) National Democratic Party by seizing 80% of the parliament seats”.

Qilādah noted that the Muslim Brotherhood is seeking complete control over the 100-member panel writing the constitution, adding the incumbent People’s Assembly is “unconstitutional”. [‘Imād Khalīl, al-Misrī al-Yawm, March 2, p. 8] Read original text in Arabic