By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Egypt’s top Muslim imam has publically criticized Pope Benedict’s call for world leaders to defend Christians, saying it represents “unacceptable interference in Egypt’s affairs.”
Agence France-Presse is reporting that Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Egypt’s oldest Islamic seat of learning, made the remarks when commenting on the deadly New Year’s Day car-bombing at a Coptic Christian church that left 25 dead.
”I disagree with the Pope’s view, and I ask why did the Pope not call for the protection of Muslims when they were subjected to killings in Iraq?” Imam Tayeb said.
The Vatican responded by rejecting the accusation, saying that the Pope has shown solidarity with the Copts as well as concern for the consequences of the violence for both the Christian and Muslim population.
”We cannot see how the Pope’s approach to bring everybody to accept non-violence can be considered meddling,” said Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi.
”I think there are misunderstandings in communication but I don’t think we should play up the imam’s statement.”
He went on to say that the Vatican referred to ”an attack against a Christian church and therefore we are concerned about Christian minorities but that does not mean that we will justify or minimize violence against the faithful of other religions.”
Imam Tayeb reportedly met with the head of Egypt’s Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III, at his headquarters in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. As he left, Christian protestors banged on his car, shouting, “We don’t want you!’
The protestors also chased down Osman Mohamed Osman, the state minister for economic development, after his meeting with Pope Shenouda, pelting him with stones as he left the building.
Coptic Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 80 million people, continue to clash with police after the New Year’s Day attack, demanding justice and an end to discrimination against them.
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