The Beni Suef Diocese has denied that the Coptic Orthodox Church issued directions/guidance on removing all copies of the newspaper al-Misrīyūn from the markets in opposition to the newspaper’s publication of the Church’s connections and recruitment of members of the Black Bloc.

An anonymous spokesperson of the Beni Suef Church confirmed that the church cannot be held responsible for the reckless actions of a young Coptic man. The Church regrets what happened, and indicated that the young man will be punished as soon as his identity is confirmed.

The anonymous source emphasized the eagerness of the Coptic Orthodox Church to see the unity of Muslims and Christians throughout the country. The sources also stressed the Church’s value of the law and its respect for all media that reports constructively rather than destructively (Mustafá al-Bahār, al-Misrīyūn, Mar. 2, p. 2). Read original text in Arabic.