Referendum on Egypt’s Constitution, Christian leaders invited
Cairo, 14 January 2014: The leaders of the Christian Churches in Egypt, and also representatives
of groups and associations related to the ecclesial communities, invite all their
compatriots to participate in the referendum on the new Constitution, scheduled for
14 and 15 January. Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II, on the eve of the Coptic
Christmas, expressed his support for broad participation in the referendum, calling
it "a duty and a responsibility". The same support for the referendum was shown by
the great Imam of Al- Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb, and even by the spokesman of the Salafi
al-Nour Party. While the militants of the Coptic Coalition organization have long
started their campaign in favor of a "yes" regarding the referendum.
Meanwhile,
on January 12 Egyptian sources consulted by Fides Agency announced that three heads
of Churches and Christian communities in Egypt - Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros,
Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak and Vice-President of the Protestant
Community in Egypt Andrea Zaki have sent telegrams of congratulations to Muslim civil
and religious authorities in the Country - from President Adli Mansour to the great
Imam al-Tayyeb - on the days when Egypt celebrates the anniversary of the birth of
the Prophet Mohammad. Source: Fides