Pope Shenouda III expressed his conviction that President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak is president of all Egyptians, both Muslims and Copts. He said that many of the Coptic problems had been solved in Mubarak’s time, most importantly the issue of the building of churches. He also said that in his [Mubarak’s] presidency Copts had reclaimed control over their endowments (Awqaf).
He also said that "those [that is, a number of Copts living in the countries of emigration] attacking the situation in Egypt either do not know how it is [in Egypt], or are exaggerating."
[The following are excerpts from an interview of Pope Shenouda III conducted by Akhbar Al-Yom. All questions are mentioned.]
Q: Why did you send a message to the Copts in countries of emigration prior to President Mubarak’s visit to the United States?
A: Through that message I was trying to calm things down over there. Some of the Copts there are trying, using incidents that happen or could happen in Egypt, to make the Copts have disagreements among themselves. Everything taking place here in Egypt has a reaction there. We are exerting every effort to make President Mubarak’s visit a successful one.
Q: What were the most important points expressed in that message?
A: In the message, I addressed three important points: the court decision in the case of Al-Kosheh, the tearing down of a building belonging to Copts in Qalyoub, and the issue of building churches. I tried to explain things as forcefully as possible.
In the Al-Kosheh case, I said that finding the defendants not guilty is a matter for the judiciary. President Mubarak has nothing to do with it. In response to the not-thorough investigations and law enforcement, the Attorney General decided to appeal the case before the Court of Cassation [the highest judicial authority in Egypt.] We await the court’s decision for we believe in the constitutional separation of authorities.
As for the building that was demolished in Qalyoub, President Mubarak has ordered that it be built again. So the problem does not exist anymore.
[Finally,] the churches building issue. President Mubarak had issued many decrees to facilitate the building and restoration of churches...
Q: What is your explanation for the timing of bringing Coptic issues to the surface each time President Mubarak visits the United States?
A: A minority among the Copts in countries of emigration are behind those attempts. In the United States alone, there are hundreds of thousands of Copts and tens of churches. What is happening does not represent the majority. Unfortunately this minority has the loud voice... In addition to my message, I also sent Anba Yo’annis, my personal secretary. He succeeded in convincing them that the atmosphere they are creating is not appropriate.
Allow me to raise another question: Why do officials in local authorities make mistakes just before President Mubarak’s visit to America?...
Q: What are the mistakes they have done recently?
A: The house in Qalyoub to name one. What is the reason for demolishing one building among 74 built in a disorganized way... It was not built on agricultural land and thus did not require being demolished. The whole area needed development... I just hope that local administration officials do not be so keen on making problems, either with or without presidential visits.
Q: But the mentioned attempts of the Copts in countries of emigration are also creating needless problems, each time. They have extended themselves to the point of demanding that the American Aid Program stop...
A: True. There are Copts outside Egypt who are creating problems even if there are none. Just as in the case of local administration officials, they too are a minority. I once told President Sadat we have to judge them in reference to the atmosphere they live in, not to our own. The freedom they have allow such excessive forms of expression, in comparison with the responsible freedom we have here...
Q: Why did you receive the members of the committee rejected by the Egyptian people? And what did you tell them?
A: First of all. I would like to explain that I met with them not as an investigating committee for I would not agree to this, but as an opinion-searching one. I had two alternatives: either refuse to meet with them and lose the chance of explaining the facts to them, or to meet them and do that... They might have said that the Coptic Pope is not allowed to meet foreign guests. We had to correct the wrong image the American Congress has concerning us...
Q: What were the most important topics that were discussed in the meeting?
A: Their questions were on the Al-Kosheh case, and the court’s decisions in this regard... We also talked about the relationship between Muslims and Copts in Egypt... They talked about the Copts’ participation and share of public offices and elections. I said that Egypt, just like any other country, is suffering an unemployment problem. It affects Muslims as much as Copts. We place all the Copts’ problems before President Mubarak, because he is capable of finding solutions to them...
Q: Back to the building of churches issue. Is there a real problem in this regard?
A: In my letter to the Copts in the countries of emigration, and in my meeting with the committee, I said that President Mubarak has already issued decrees to facilitate the building and restoration of churches in Egypt. Tens of churches have been built in Egypt lately. Unfortunately, I do not have a list of them now...
Q: Being responsible for the Copts, do you think that President Mubarak is considering public interest in this regard?
A: No doubt. This is what I wrote telling the Copts in countries of emigration.
Q: What do you think of the relationship between Muslims and Copts in Egypt?
A: They have been close together for hundreds of years. However, it does not mean extremists do not exist on both sides. Generally speaking, the relationship between Muslims and Copts in Egypt is still special... I told the committee members that Muslims and Copts in Egypt reject violence. Misuse of freedom happens in the world’s most democratic and free country. In Egypt, freedom is controlled by law, public order, and religion. Of course there are some damaging ideas coming to us from outside. The books propagating those ideas are sold publicly in Cairo’s Book Fair...
Q: What is your current attitude towards preventing Copts from visiting Jerusalem?
A: We do not approve of visits to Jerusalem while it is under Israeli occupation. Such a visit will surely be used by the Jews for their own interest...Besides, the people going there are brainwashed. I do this from a patriotic point of view. Still, some of are Copts are attacking me because of it.
Q: Until when will this decision continue?
A: I never change my mind... I have never forbidden anyone from visiting Jerusalem while under occupation. We will not go there alone as Copts, but hand-in-hand with Muslims. I cannot ask a visa from the Israeli ambassador. The visa must come from the Palestinian government.
Q: Finally, what do you hope for President Mubarak’s visit to the United States?
A: All success to begin with. I hope the political goals of that visit are achieved. I expect a successful visit to be calm. We should ignore any minorities trying to raise any problems. The majority of Copts in America support President Mubarak.
