CAIRO: Egypt’s Coptic community is eager to participate in the first post-Mubarak parliamentary elections amid repeated calls by Pope Shenouda to vote. While some claim their votes are aimed at countering the Islamist stream, others say they are looking to be well-represented in parliament.
This week, Pope Shenouda urged Copts to vote for candidates they deem qualified, regardless of their affiliation. He made the same calls in his weekly sermon at the Orthodox Church earlier this month.
Shenouda’s remarks, said to be the first in over 20 years, come a month after a violent crackdown on Christian protesters in front of state television building in October that left 27 people dead.
“I personally can see the importance of Shenouda’s statements as there are other religious groups that are intensively campaigning to win the elections, Christians’ participation in the elections will create a balance between the votes, as we will vote for the moderate candidates,” said Evon Mosaad, one of the founders of the Maspero Youth Coalition.
A prominent Coptic leader who asked to remain anonymous said that it’s the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) who asked the church to call on Christians to vote.
“There is a huge Islamic bloc in the political arena, that’s why we have to vote,” he explained.
The right to vote
Most Egyptians were always reluctant to participate in political life, dominated by the disbanded National Democratic Party. However, some analysts dated Christians’ boycott back to 1953, when the multi-party system was abolished under former president Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Others attribute Christians’ lack of participation to the rise of the Islamists in the 70s and 80s under the rule of former president Anwar Sadat.
“The situation now is different, we have liberal parties, we have complete judiciary monitoring, why then wouldn’t we participate in the elections?” explained Youssef Sedhom, chief editor of Watani, a Coptic newspaper.
The Coptic community gained momentum after the ouster of Mubarak, with several groups and coalitions sprouting such as the Maspero Youth Coalition, the Copts for Elections group who rally for equality.
“Participating in the elections is a right and a national duty, therefore we call on Christians in Egypt to vote for moderate candidates, we neither tell them who to vote for nor reject their choice but we look to have moderate people who are ready to help Egypt progress,” said Father Passanty of the Helwan Church.
“I cannot say that this is the first time the church and the pope calls on Christians to vote, but what I can say is that they are sending a message to Christians that they belong to Egypt and should play a part in shaping the country’s future,” Sedhom said.
Coptic representation
Most Copts are looking to be well-represented in the upcoming parliament.
“We are all Egyptians and there are a lot of Christians on the streets and a lot of them in the churches which is why the church called on us to vote, that will lead the people in the streets to go out and vote. Even if there aren’t a lot of Christian candidates we will still vote for those who will help in the country’s progress and development,” said Mosaad.
A number of Christians explained that the church is not leaning towards certain candidates because of their religious affiliation, but instead launched awareness campaigns to explain the role of the parliament and why a voter should take part.
“Unlike previously when churches were used as a platform to promote Christian candidates, now they are focused on the strength of candidates’ platforms and how well the church believes each candidate will support equal rights and citizenship, they are trying to be part of the nation,” Sedhom explained.
“I cannot say it’s a right thing,” he added “but Egypt is in a stage where the church must interfere to encourage the Christian population to vote,” he concluded.
