Bishop Makarios, General Bishop of al-Minya governorate, in an interview, stressed the necessity of prosecuting offenders. He also said that the government must work to combat terrorism and stressed that burning of churches has no relation to Islam.

When speaking about June 30, he said that the church did not order any Copts to protest and that extremist groups incorrectly think that Christians were against the “Islamic project”. When asked whether the burning of churches was to dissuade Christians from their stance on June 30, he said that these actions tarnish the image of Islam and again confirmed that the Church did not intervene in political life and did not participate in the ‘Road Map’ which General ‘Abd al-Fatāh al-Sīsī led. When asked whether he thought the security agencies failed regarding the church burnings, he agreed and added that when the churches were burnt there was a complete absence of police; if there had been security they would have prevented these acts.

He addressed all Egyptians saying that Egypt will emerge stronger in the long run from this period, and when referring to the police he said that they must fulfill their duty and protect all institutions equally (Ahmad Man’am and Muhammad ‘Alī Zīdān, al-Watan, Aug. 24, p. 11).  Read original text in Arabic.

(Flynne Rushton, Intern)