Frankfurter Allgemeine: Improved ties with Copts in al-Sissi's Egypt

(dpa)



Frankfurt (dpa) - The conservative German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) sees the inauguration this month of a Coptic cathedral in the Egypt's new capital outside Cairo as symbolic of improved relations between the government and the Coptic Church since President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi took power. In an editorial (Tuesday), the paper writes, in part:

 
"The celebration of Coptic Christmas in the cathedral in Egypt's new capital, in which President Sissi also took part, is a powerful sign that Christians have their, albeit difficult, place in the countries of the Middle East.
The Egyptian leadership has given the widely visible cathedral a prominent place in the new, partially-occupied capital near Cairo.
In doing so, the leadership emphasizes that Muslims as well as Christians are an essential part of Egyptian national unity.
Under President al-Sissi, the relationship between state authorities and the church has improved considerably. There are still complaints about social discrimination, especially in rural areas."


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