Bank officials denounced claims that accuse Egyptian Christians of withdrawing their deposit funds from Egyptian banks in an alleged attempt to destabilize the state. Former governor of Egypt’s Central Bank and director of Misr-Iran Bank Ismā’īl Hasan said that such claims against Christians are groundless, fuel instability in society, and incite sedition among people. The former governor of the Central Bank added that the foreign currency funds of Egyptian Christians are stable, thus, an indication that said claims do not relate to reality.
At the same time, the Coptic Orthodox Church denied said rumors. Bishop Marqus of Shubrā al-Khaymah commented that accusing Pope Tawadros II of encouraging Christians to withdraw their money from the Egyptian banks is a false claim and a slander that aims to tarnish the image of the Pope.
He continued, saying that, “[…] If Christians withdraw their money from the banks, they will certainly need to deposit them somewhere; to leave them in their houses would make them at risk to theft and looting?! These charges are not compatible with any sound thinking.”
In the same context on the stimulus against the Copts of Egypt, spokesman of the political wing of the Islamic Construction and Development Party (CPP) Shaykh Hishām al-Najjār claimed that the withdrawal of hard currency deposit funds by some Egyptians, whether such withdrawal is planned or at random is masterminded by the Copts to thwart the Islamic rule.
The controversial discussion comes after the researcher at the National Center for Research Hāmid Siddīq has filed a claim against Pope Tawadros II, accusing him of inciting Christians to jeopardize Egypt’s security and stability (Ahmad Zaghlūl, Mīrā Mamdūh and Muhammad Fuꞌād, Rose al-Yūsuf, Jan. 9, p. 1). Read original text in Arabic.
