Al-Sayyīd al-Tāhir al-Hāshimī, a member of Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly and the Chairman of the Hashemites in Beheira, criticized the statements of Bishop Jeremiah during a seminar in the Coptic Cultural Center. Bishop Jeremiah stated that amending the Article 3 of the Constitution to read “non-Muslims” instead of “Christians and Jews” will open the door to Shī’ah and Bahā’īs to demand their rights, a matter which is harmful for both Christians and Muslims.  The chairman denounced the statement of Bishop Jeremiah and stated that his statement is exclusionary of some Egyptian citizens that should have the same rights of citizenship. He requested Pope Tawadros to issue an official statement to respond to statements of Bishop Jeremiah and clarify the position of the Coptic Orthodox Church on freedom of belief and to start interrogating Bishop Jeremiah due to his indirect incitement against the Shī’ah in Egypt (Girgis Bishrī, “Copts United”, Sept. 25). Read original text in Arabic.