The first visit to Egypt by John Kerry, Hillary Clinton's successor as US secretary of state, escalated political tensions between the opposition and presidency. The National Salvation Front (NSF), businessmen and Coptic leaders refused to meet with Kerry in protest at the US administration's support for the incumbent Muslim Brotherhood (MB) regime. Before Kerry left Egypt hundreds, including Copts, protested against statements he made opposing any boycott of elections. Demonstrators subsequently blocked the road leading to the airport which delayed the departure flight of Washington's top diplomat. Naguib Gibril, a leading Coptic figure, said Coptic representatives had turned down Kerry's invitation to meet and talk because they rejected US interference in Egyptian affairs and his attempt to convince political forces to change their minds about boycotting the upcoming parliamentary elections. He added that US policies are opaque and biased, and Washington is drawing closer to the MB to serve US interests in the Middle East, particularly as regards Israel. He added that the Coptic community is an integral part of the national fabric and will never become a gateway for the US to further its interests. Several Coptic organisations and groups have announced their intention to boycott parliamentary elections in the absence of minimum guarantees that they will be free and fair. Sources say the Citizenship Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church had opted to boycott the poll and say the recent redrawing of electoral districts — including Shubra, Zeitoun and Dar Al-Salam — was a flagrant attempt to split the Coptic vote and dilute it in other constituencies. In other cases, such as the tampering with Dokki boundaries, the aim was to ensure the victory of leading Brotherhood figures. Former MP Ehab Ramzi says he has contacted Coptic candidates who intended to contest the elections this year to urge them to boycott. “I called Copts who were intending to nominate themselves across the country to ask them not to run,” says Ramzi. “I argued the need to boycott a farce in which boundaries were altered only to secure a Brotherhood victory and then give the chance to claim this was a result of a fair vote. We must boycott as candidates and voters. We cannot give legitimacy to the cynical manipulations of the Brotherhood.” Anxiety among the Coptic community has grown following an attack by Salafis earlier this week on Abu Makkar Church in Shubra Al-Kheima. Bishop Morcos of Shubra met with a delegation of political forces, including the Free Egyptians Party, the Wafd, the Egyptian Democratic Party and NSF representatives to discuss the situation at Abu Makkar Church. The complex has been besieged after Salafi sheikhs objected to construction work and to the holding of prayers in the complex's offices. After meeting with the delegation Morcos said the problem at St Abu Makkar Church had been triggered by people with no official position but before whom officials and the security bodies are helpless. He explained to the delegation there had been trouble in 2012 when the Church decided to hold Epiphany prayers inside the offices at Abu Makkar Church. He explained that he had called all relevant security agencies and received approval for the event only for the building to be raided, the congregation evicted and everything inside destroyed. Bishop Morcos says he filed a report with the police and accused four people of inciting the attack but until now no legal action has been taken and his complaint has been effectively shelved. Official ambivalence about the incident, he says, only encouraged more vandalism against the church. In the meantime a baseless rumour that a Muslim teacher, Sahar Al-Tuni, was being held against her will in Mar Girgis Church in Kom Ombo triggered daily clashes between security forces and young Muslim rioters who attacked the church. Security presence was beefed up in the entire area out of fear of violence spreading. Father Arsanious Kirolos, deputy of Kom Ombo diocese, says the church has suspended all gatherings apart from mass and has advised women not to leave their homes for fear they will be violently attacked. He went on to praise the role of local mosque imams in helping to contain the crisis. The problem began when rumours spread that the preparatory school teacher had been kidnapped by the church. Despite the fact the woman's family denied this was the case the church came under attack from Molotov cocktail and rock throwing rioters. Father Abanob Wahid, priest at Mar Girgis, praised leading Idrisid figure Al-Sayed Al-Idrisi and the group of local sheikhs and mayors who visited the church in solidarity during the violence. After several prominent Muslim families in Kom Ombo intervened, most protesters outside the church left. The situation further calmed down after Al-Tuni turned up in South Sinai. Bishop Rafael, secretary of the Holy Synod and Bishop of Central Cairo Churches, has announced that Pope Tawadros II will chair the opening session of a seminar titled ‘Service is leadership and custodianship'. The seminar will take place between 11 and 14 March at the papal headquarters in Bishop Bishoi Monastery in Wadi Al-Natroun. Bishop Rafael said Pope Tawadros will also chair several sessions at a seminar 18-21 March on personal status issues.
