CAIRO: Pope Shenouda III, head of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church, has suggested the modification of Article 2 of the Egyptian Constitution, which declares Islamic law as the main source of civil legislation in Egypt. Pope Shenouda expressed his suggestion to Deputy Prime Minister Yahia al-Gamal during his visit to the Abbasiya Cathedral in Cairo on Sunday. Pope Shenouda called for constitutional reform that expressively recognizes the presence of religious minorities in the Egyptian population. Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Tayyeb, the highest religious authority in Egypt and in the Sunni Muslim world, refused the possibility of any modification of the article, stating that it would affect directly Egyptian identity. Copts and Muslims came to fight side by side against the forces of ousted President Hosni Mubarak during revolutionary demonstrations, and demonstrators repeatedly shouted slogans including “Muslim, Christian, one hand,” underling the unity of Egyptian people regardless of their faith or ethnicity. Muslim and Coptic Egyptians entered polling stations for Saturday's referendum on constitutional amendments sharply divided. While some Friday sermons argued that casting a ‘yes' was an Islamic obligation, Coptic Christian community members expressed their will to cast a ‘no' vote, fearing that a ‘yes' would favor Islamists. Coptic Christians are the only seizable religious minority in Egypt. Estimated 5-10 millions in Egypt, they form 10-15 percent of the population. BM
