Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The current days mark the 22^nd anniversary of Anba Bassanti's assumption of the parish of Hilwān and Ma‘sara.

 

Bassanti recently returned from a trip abroad, and said his visits to churches in the United States and Canada aimed to look at the welfare of Copts there, and reassuring them of Pope Shenouda's health, the state of the nation, and the amity between Muslims and Copts.

 

"I told everyone that Egypt is well and shall remain so, and as the holy book said 'blessed be my people Egypt'," Basanti said.

 

Regarding the problems faced by expatriate Copts, Basanti said unemployment is the principal one. This is a world-wide issue, however, including the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, so of course Egyptians abroad are naturally affected as well.

 

Another problem is excessive assimilation, as values in these societies are very different from ones in Egypt. This brings out the importance of the Egyptian family and the Coptic Church, Basanti told al-Wafd.

 

There are certain basics that all agree upon. There is no persecution of Copts in Egypt, but they lack certain rights. Application of the law equally is a basic demand. For Copts to have the same rights as their Muslim brothers, in occupying leading positions and building churches is what all desire, Basanti said.

 

Regarding the statements issued by Maurice Sādiq, leader in the expatriate Coptic community, in which he called for the use of the 'water weapon' [Reviewer: this is a reference to the current debate over the distribution of the Nile River waters among Nile Basin countries] to protect Copts, Basanti said: "I totally reject recourse to any entity outside Egypt in pursuit of Coptic rights, as our problems are being dealt with internally with officialdom. And we have actually felt responsiveness and major cooperation, and are awaiting more so that Copts feel equal to their Muslim brothers."

 

Basanti rejected the idea of a Coptic parliament, which some expatriate Coptic organizations have called for, saying that activity should be through official channels in the state. He added "I thank God that we now have a lot of freedom, for previously we did not have freedom of the press and (other) media."

 

The matter of permitted church building is improving, according to Basanti, but "we aspire to a unified building law for houses of worship for Muslims and Christians, so that all would be equal before the nation and the law."