In an interview with al-Yawm al-Sābi', Bishop Mūsá of Youth and one of the most prominent members of the Church renowned for his advocacy for peace, talks about the current situation in Egypt. He speaks mostly of political matters: the Constitution, the rule of the Brotherhood, and national dialogue. In addition, Bishop Mūsá answers a number of questions regarding the kidnapping of Coptic girls, the existence of religion cards, and finally, he compares the situation faced by the Copts today compared to that under former President Mubārak.
Regarding the Constitution, Bishop Mūsá explains how it is supposed to be a legal, and not a religious document. He goes into detail of the Church’s position on a number of articles. The Church agrees with the second article because it speaks of the principles of Islamic Law and the sharī'ah essentially treats Christians with tolerance. There is a concern however, that the interpretation of jurisprudence may be harmful to Copts. The Church asked for article 3 because it guarantees their right to personal status only. Bishop Mūsá refutes the rumor that there was a trade-off in which the Church accepted Article 219 in order to pass Article 3. Bishop Mūsá denies that the Church agreed to Article 219 and claims it was signed without it going back to the Church. The Church decided to withdraw in a time that civil parties were similarly boycotting their participation in the drafting of the Constitution. It was a unanimous decision within the Church, supported by the Evangelical and Catholic Churches, to withdraw from the Constituent Assembly.
Bishop Mūsá explains the Church’s stance vis-à-vis the Azhar. He claims that the Church does not fear the Azhar, but the power and control that extremists hold over it.
According to Mūsá, the Church withdrew from national dialogue because of the government’s unwillingness to accept its responsibility towards all citizens; it needs to rule with the consent of the people and it needs to listen to the people. Another reason for the Church’s decision to withdraw from the dialogue was that the Brotherhood had already announced that results from the dialogue would be non-binding. Despite the adoption of the Constitution, Mūsá explains that the Brotherhood understands the Church’s, and other parties’, rejection of the constitution and will seek a way to amend it, even if it is through the next House of Representatives. Bishop Mūsá is thus somewhat optimistic about the future.
Although Mūsá acknowledges that boycotting national dialogue is not the solution, it is momentarily the Church’s way to speak its opinion. Mūsá explains that Pope Tawadros II rejects religious dialogue with the Brotherhood. If the Brotherhood is willing to talk politics, and include the rest of the civil parties, then the Church will open its doors to dialogue. According to Bishop Mūsá, the Church is learning to fight for its rights while the ruling Islamic party is learning what it means to be democratic. Bishop Mūsá is reassured that even an Islamic rule can treat everyone right, whether they are political forces, Copts or women.
Although Mūsá is concerned for Coptic representation in the government, he believes the situation will get better if there is a change in government. When asked whether he believes there is a “Brotherhoodization” of politics and society happening, he firmly expressed his refusal to believe this. All eyes are currently on President Mursī and any attempt to further “Brotherdize” society, whether through politics or education, will be met with fierce opposition. Mūsá explains however, that it is within their right to teach the Brotherhood’s history because the Brotherhood is a part of Egyptian society. Suppressing them is not the solution either.
According to Bishop Mūsá, there were more incidents of sectarian strife in the previous era than now. Additionally, the Revolution has created a higher level of freedom of expression, and the Church and Copts benefited from the climate of freedom just as much as the Islamic streams benefited.
When asked to discuss his opinion of President Mursī, Bishop Mūsá explains how he has only had a few months in power. People need to calm down and create a climate in which there can be a focus on the future by negotiating with the other national powers. There is currently no long-term strategy and it is essential that both the ruling party and the opposition develop this.
Finally, Bishop Mūsá justifies Pope Tawadros’s actions in the last few months. The Pope did not interfere in politics, but fought instead for the nation and for religion. He did not think of encouraging Copts to participate in political activities, and even during the elections he did not tell Copts who to vote for. Copts have to ask for their rights as Copts and as Egyptians. The Pope and the Church have never been silent when it comes to Coptic rights being violated; this is not encouraging sectarian strife, but rather it is continuing the fight for a recognition of rights that Copts deserve as both humans and as citizens of the Egyptian state (Michael Fāris, al-Yawm al-Sābi', Feb. 13, p. 7). Read original text in Arabic.
