The Washington conference

By Gamal Asaad

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Expatriate Copts held a conference in Washington this month at which they reiterated the same demands made in Zurich in late 2004. They called for 15 per cent of executive posts and parliamentary seats to be occupied by Copts and the separation of state and religion. They also called for the abrogation of the Second Article of the constitution which states that Egypt is an Islamic country and that Islamic law, or sharia, is the main source of legislation.

No one, either inside or outside Egypt, denies the existence of Coptic grievances. The political climate in Egypt allows for the free discussion of these grievances in the media. This is a far cry from the situation in the past.

Coptic problems are Egyptian problems. They have to be resolved through dialogue and in a spirit of fraternity and compassion. It is odd to see these grievances discussed in the US at a time when the region is suffering from a rising sectarian tide in Iraq, Sudan and Lebanon. What makes the demand for a Coptic quota of public offices particularly worrying is that it closely mirrors the kinds of sectarian demands being made in Iraq.

Coptic conferences in the US are sponsored by powerful political personalities with a dubious hidden agenda. They are often sponsored by congressmen with strong Zionist loyalties and institutions with a track record of Islam-bashing, such as the Freedom House.

Coptic expatriates, on the other hand, seem to think pressure on the Egyptian government is the best policy. One wonders if pressure would make things better, or simply backfire. The Copts need the Egyptian government and the public on their side. They need legislative changes and administrative decisions to address their grievances.

This week's Soapbox speaker is a veteran political thinker.