From Rāb’ah al-'Adāwīyyah platform (a square in Nasr City district where Morsi supporters are protesting), the MB’s Guide, or murshid, Dr. Muhammad Badī’, gave a speech to the protesters. He directed messages to the army, Azhar’s Grand Shaykh, and Pope Tawadros. He called the Azhar and army to refuse the “coup against legitimacy”. He, also, objected on what he called “Pope Tawadros’ interference in politics” when he should stick to be a religious symbol, adding that he does not represent Copts.

Kamal Zākhir, coordinator of Coptic secular front, said that the Pope’s existence in the statement of the army came to deliver the meaning that Egypt is for all.

For his part, the coordinator of Coptic youth front Rāmī Kāmil said that the participation of the Pope  is to express the national role of the Church, stressing that Copts refuse the guardianship of the Church in political decisions (‘Abd al-Wahāb Sha’bān, al-Wafd, July 8, p. 5). Read original text in Arabic.