The Christian Churches in Egypt are deeply concerned at President Mohamed Morsi’s edict to take absolute powers and exempt his decisions from judicial scrutiny until a constitution is approved for the country.
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The decision has resulted in widespread protests, tensions and clashes. Morsi, the country’s first freely elected Muslim president, issued the edict on November 22. His office later claimed he had taken these temporary powers to protect the democratically chosen Constituent Assembly from being dissolved or obstructed by a judiciary and political opponents that are closely linked to former President Mubarak.
The Anglican Bishop of Egypt, Mouneer Hanna Anis, said the leaders of all the Christian Churches are disturbed not only by that edict but also by the attempt by the majority Islamic component of the Constituent Assembly to impose its own views on the new charter.
He expressed their concern in a letter on November 24, in which he called for prayer for Egypt saying, “the situation is not easy, and no-one can predict what is going to happen”.
Christians count for 10% of Egypt’s majority Muslim population of 80 million people. Five months ago, June 27, Bishop Mouneer attended a meeting of leaders of all the Christian Churches with the newly elected President.
He came away greatly “encouraged” because Morsi had “assured” them “that Christians are equal citizens in Egypt and it is his duty to make sure that every citizen receives his or her rights”. Now, however, the Anglican leader, like other Christian leaders and secular political parties, has serious doubts as to where Morsi is taking the country.
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