Egypt president praises wisdom and patriotism of Coptic Christians

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the wisdom and patriotism of the country's highly persecuted Coptic Christian minorities as he met with Coptic Pope Tawadros II.

According to Agenzia Fides, Sisi declared that all citizens regardless of their religion "have equal rights and duties as established by the Constitution" as he praised the Coptic Christians for their "wisdom and a spirit of patriotism" even as they suffered continued persecution at the hands of those who "try to exploit religion as a means of fomenting division and spreading extremist ideas."

Sisi uttered these words as he received at the presidential palace the 63-year-old leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, which represents 10-15 percent of the country's predominantly Muslim population. Delegates of the Bishops of the Copt Orthodox Synod of Bishops also accompanied the Coptic Pope.

The Coptic Pope told Egyptians lawmakers to uphold national unity as he met with them July 25. He also cited a report that revealed 37 cases of sectarian attacks against Copts since 2013.

"The incidents we heard about are very painful. On my part, I'm patient and enduring, but there have been incidents that warn of danger," a Coptic Church statement quoted the pope as saying, according to the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA).

He reminded the lawmakers that national unity remains part of their "responsibility in front of the world, future generations, history and in front of God."

Saad El-Gamal, a lawmaker and the head of the Support Egypt coalition, praised Pope Tawadros II for his "wisdom" and reported that the religion committee already started to draft a legislation for church buildings and another legislation to recognize sectarian attacks as crimes undermining national unity.

The head of the religion committee, Dr. Osama El-Abd, also took on the side of the religious minorities.

"I have Christian friends, we are partners in [business], and they have never harassed me or subjected me to injustice," stated El-Abd.