Arab West Report met with Ihāb al-Kharrāt in his office just off Tahrir Square on March 15, 2014, shortly before the presidential elections. Kharrāt is one of the founding members of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, and though the party remained neutral, he endorsed Hamdīn Sabbāhī, one of the few high profile Coptic leaders to do so.

As we know now, it turned out to be a losing proposition, as he was crushed by ‘Abd al-Fattāh al- Sīsī. But as Kharrāt explains, it was a principled vote more than one to back a likely winner. Being principled is important to Kharrāt, and the interview explores this theme in relation to his Christian faith and deep involvement in politics.