Coptic pope criticizes Islamist influence on Egypt’s constitution
February 06, 2013: The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church has criticized Egypt’s
new constitution, which declares that “principles of Islamic Sharia are the principal
source of legislation.”
“The constitution, the base for all laws, must be
under the umbrella of citizenship and not a religious one," Pope Theodoros (Tawadros)
II of Alexandria said in an interview with the Associated Press. “Subsequently, some
clauses were distorted by a religious slant and that in itself is discrimination because
the constitution is supposed to unite and not divide.”
“Maybe the constitution
will change with the next parliamentary and presidential elections,” he continued.
“Or maybe it will temporarily stay unchanged and be amended later.”
“We must
and will actively take part in any national dialogue in which we see a benefit for
the nation,” he added. “But when we find that a dialogue ends before it starts and
none of its results are implemented then we realize that it is not in the interest
of the nation.”