CAIRO: Coptic activists from a number of minor Egyptian political parties are currently organizing a protest in Egypt against an upcoming international Coptic conference, according to local press reports. Eight political parties including the Egypt Arab Socialist Party, the Generation Party, the Egypt Youth Party, the Democratic Peace Party, and the Democratic Union Party said they will hold a conference next Friday in Mansoura entitled "Together Against Immigrant Copts' Suspicious Movements . On the same note, a group of young Copts unaffiliated thus far with any political entity have announced their intent to protest the upcoming conference organized by immigrant Copts in the US. They are said to be protesting against the conference on the grounds that it is sectarian in nature, and is against national interests. The conference, which is due to be held in Chicago Oct. 19-20 by the International Coptic Assembly, will address a number of issues including the status of Copts in Egypt and "exploring the means to deal with the powers that affect it . Youssef Sidhom, editor of the Christian weekly Watani, has said he is "not surprised by news of the protest, and argues that such protests are an attempt to stifle debate about sectarianism in Egypt. "It is not acceptable to discuss Coptic problems abroad, Sidhom told Daily News Egypt. He added that he had stopped attending such conferences as they have failed to bring about results in the past, and argues the need to include Egyptian Muslims. Medhat Klada, a spokesperson for the conference, dismissed the protest. "This is propaganda against our rights, Medhat told Daily News Egypt, "but it is not important, it won't have any effect.
