In his first public statements on the subject, Coptic Pope Shenouda III insisted on the authenticity of video footage of Camillia Shehata, wife of a Minya priest, stressing that she had not converted to Islam as has been claimed.
Egyptian state television earlier this month broadcast footage of Shehata in which she confirmed her Christian faith. Some critics, however, have questioned the video tape's authenticity.
"This crisis has come as a result of people interfering in Shehata's personal life,” the pope said in a televised interview on Sunday. He went on to say that her alleged conversion to Islam should not have been addressed "in such an inappropriate way."
Muslim activists have recently staged a number of demonstrations in Cairo, claiming that the church–in collaboration with the government–had detained Shehata for converting to Islam. Demonstrators called on church authorities for the woman's release.
In other news, the pope rejected recent accusations made by Islamic thinker Mohamed Selim al-Awa, secretary-general of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, that Egyptian Copts were stockpiling weapons inside churches throughout the country. “God forgive him and those who tarnish the church's image with such statements," the pope said.
Church lawyer Naguib Gabriel has reportedly filed a complaint with the attorney-general against al-Awa and Al-Jazeera news presenter Ahmed Mansour over al-Awa's assertions. Gabriel described the arms-stockpiling claims as "an insult to Copts and a rumor that serves to mar the status of Copts in society."
The pope also challenged claims by some critics that Egypt's Coptic Church constituted "a state within a state."
“This is absolute nonsense,” he said. “Just because the state responds to the demands of Christians, this doesn't mean the church is more powerful than the state.”
Some independent observers believe that mounting tensions between Muslims and Christians may be linked to upcoming parliamentary elections slated for November. They recall demonstrations staged against the Coptic Church in Alexandria in advance of 2005 parliamentary elections, which they say were instigated by the Muslim Brotherhood opposition movement.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
