Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie has requested to meet with Coptic Pope Shenouda III, a Coptic church source said today. The source said the request came after a phone conversation between the two on Saturday, following the pope's return from an 18-day therapeutic trip to the US. According to the source, Badie took the initiative to call Shenouda and told him that the coming period will require everyone's cooperation, highlighting his good relationship with bishops from Beni Suef where he grew up. The Coptic Church and the Muslim Brotherhood have expressed opposing views on the constitutional amendments proposed in last Saturday's referendum. While the church rejected the amendments, which leave intact an article designating Islam as Egypt's national religion, the Brotherhood said it accepts them. Badie launched an initiative to engage in a dialogue with Coptic youth, especially after several political powers expressed fears about the possibility of the Brotherhood gaining power in Egypt. The Coptic Youth Movement, meanwhile, rejected the initiative. Rami Kamel, a leader of the movement, said he rejects the start of any dialogue before the Brotherhood apologizes for what he described as its "bloody history." He called for guarantees that all Egyptians will enjoy equal rights and full citizenship. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
