Blogger: Baha’i Faith in Egypt
Article: Egypt’s Coptic Church Demands Amending Article-2
Originaly Posted On: 2007-01-19 20:11:00

An article published today in al-Masry al-Youm newspaper reported on the mounting pressure by Egypt’s Orthodox [Coptic] Church demanding the amendment of Article-2 of the constitution.

Article-2 states: “Islam is the Religion of the State. Arabic is its official language, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia).”

Speaking on behalf of the Church Anba (Bishop) Morqos is requesting that the language of the Article be changed to state: “a principal source legislation” rather than “the principal source of legislation,” which was amended to that particular language in May 1980 by the late president Anwar el-Sadat in order to appease Muslim fundamentalists.

Anba Morqos indicated that this requested amendment “would guarantee the application of other sources of legislation, and not only Islamic Jurisprudence as the principal source.”

Morqos also clarified that “laws and principles of citizenship must be those that we agree on, and not those that are forced upon us.” He indicated that Egyptian Christians are not a small minority, but rather represent 15-18% of the population based on the most recent census, and besides that they [Copts] “are [Egypt's] sons and its owners.”

The Bishop has also requested on behalf of the church that the State enforces a constitutional guarantee of articles that criminalize the contempt and disdain for religions, and that the application of this law should apply to all religions, so it would benefit the adherents of all currently present religions.