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| Egypt's Coptic pope criticises Islamist president over sectarian violence | Egypt's Coptic pope criticises Islamist president over sectarian violence |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The head of Egypt's Coptic church has strongly condemned the country's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, for failing to deal properly with last weekend's sectarian violence that ended with six Christians being killed and the country's largest cathedral besieged by police and armed civilians. | The head of Egypt's Coptic church has strongly condemned the country's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, for failing to deal properly with last weekend's sectarian violence that ended with six Christians being killed and the country's largest cathedral besieged by police and armed civilians. |
| In an outburst unusual for its tone and directness, Pope Tawadros II called a live current affairs programme on Monday night to criticise what he sees as Morsi's negligence. On Sunday, Morsi had claimed that any attack on the cathedral was an attack on him personally and telephoned Tawadros to promise to do everything he could to protect it. | In an outburst unusual for its tone and directness, Pope Tawadros II called a live current affairs programme on Monday night to criticise what he sees as Morsi's negligence. On Sunday, Morsi had claimed that any attack on the cathedral was an attack on him personally and telephoned Tawadros to promise to do everything he could to protect it. |
| "But in reality he did not," said the pope, arguing that Morsi's action "comes under the category of negligence". Police continued to fire teargas into the cathedral precinct after Morsi's phone call – though it is unclear how much control Morsi exerts over security services. | "But in reality he did not," said the pope, arguing that Morsi's action "comes under the category of negligence". Police continued to fire teargas into the cathedral precinct after Morsi's phone call – though it is unclear how much control Morsi exerts over security services. |
| Tawadros also criticised Morsi's decision on Monday to revive a body aimed at promoting religious equality, seeing it as a meaningless gesture. "We want action not words," he said, adding that such committees would not stem an alarming rise in sectarianism. | Tawadros also criticised Morsi's decision on Monday to revive a body aimed at promoting religious equality, seeing it as a meaningless gesture. "We want action not words," he said, adding that such committees would not stem an alarming rise in sectarianism. |
| The strength of Tawadros's words suggested a change in tack from the Coptic leadership, said a leading analyst of Coptic affairs. "What was shocking was the tone of the language," said Dr Vivian Ibrahim, the author of Copts of Egypt, and a fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. "It's also interesting that he called in to a television show. He hasn't used a sermon. He is trying to reach as large an audience as possible." | The strength of Tawadros's words suggested a change in tack from the Coptic leadership, said a leading analyst of Coptic affairs. "What was shocking was the tone of the language," said Dr Vivian Ibrahim, the author of Copts of Egypt, and a fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. "It's also interesting that he called in to a television show. He hasn't used a sermon. He is trying to reach as large an audience as possible." |
| It is not unprecedented for a pope to criticise the Egyptian state. Tawadros's predecessor, Shenouda III – whom he succeeded last year – began his papacy four decades ago with similarly fiery outbursts against the then dictator Anwar Sadat. | It is not unprecedented for a pope to criticise the Egyptian state. Tawadros's predecessor, Shenouda III – whom he succeeded last year – began his papacy four decades ago with similarly fiery outbursts against the then dictator Anwar Sadat. |
| But Tawadros's statements represent a significant departure from Shenouda's more recent behaviour, when the erstwhile pope made his feelings known through very indirect means. "One of his big things was to retreat to a monastery, or to speak through his bishops," said Ibrahim. | But Tawadros's statements represent a significant departure from Shenouda's more recent behaviour, when the erstwhile pope made his feelings known through very indirect means. "One of his big things was to retreat to a monastery, or to speak through his bishops," said Ibrahim. |
| Tawadros may have been particularly angered by a statement by a Morsi aide that laid the blame for Sunday's cathedral siege at the feet of Copts. | Tawadros may have been particularly angered by a statement by a Morsi aide that laid the blame for Sunday's cathedral siege at the feet of Copts. |
| Thousands of Christians had gathered at St Mark's Cathedral on Sunday to mourn the death of four Copts in earlier sectarian clashes north of Cairo. Those present said they were attacked as they tried to leave Egypt's largest cathedral, forcing them back inside the cathedral precinct and sparking a siege that lasted all afternoon and stretched into the night. Police fired teargas over the cathedral walls and stood by as unknown men armed with birdshot, knives and petrol bombs scaled nearby buildings to attack those inside the church grounds. Two Christians were killed and at least 80 injured. | Thousands of Christians had gathered at St Mark's Cathedral on Sunday to mourn the death of four Copts in earlier sectarian clashes north of Cairo. Those present said they were attacked as they tried to leave Egypt's largest cathedral, forcing them back inside the cathedral precinct and sparking a siege that lasted all afternoon and stretched into the night. Police fired teargas over the cathedral walls and stood by as unknown men armed with birdshot, knives and petrol bombs scaled nearby buildings to attack those inside the church grounds. Two Christians were killed and at least 80 injured. |
| Christians form about 10% of Egypt's population of 85 million, and have lived largely peacefully alongside Muslims for more than a millennium. Sectarian tensions have steadily risen over the past four decades, and the prominence of Morsi and his associates in the Muslim Brotherhood has raised tensions further. Egypt's new constitution, drafted mainly by Islamists, is believed to inadequately protect the rights of Christians and other minorities. | Christians form about 10% of Egypt's population of 85 million, and have lived largely peacefully alongside Muslims for more than a millennium. Sectarian tensions have steadily risen over the past four decades, and the prominence of Morsi and his associates in the Muslim Brotherhood has raised tensions further. Egypt's new constitution, drafted mainly by Islamists, is believed to inadequately protect the rights of Christians and other minorities. |
| But anger at the president crosses sectarian boundaries. Outside the cathedral on Sunday, a crowd of Muslims gathered in support of Christians, and chanted anti-Brotherhood slogans. "Christians and Muslims are from one hand," they sang. | But anger at the president crosses sectarian boundaries. Outside the cathedral on Sunday, a crowd of Muslims gathered in support of Christians, and chanted anti-Brotherhood slogans. "Christians and Muslims are from one hand," they sang. |
| Muslims and Christians are also expected to march together on Tuesday night to the cathedral in solidarity with those who died. | Muslims and Christians are also expected to march together on Tuesday night to the cathedral in solidarity with those who died. |
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