CAIRO: Pope Shenouda III, the leader of Egypt's Coptic Church, started investigations with Bishop Paula, the chairman of the Clerical council, and with Priest Royce Aweidah, the council's secretary. The investigations are related to the incidents that took place after the strike that was organized by many Christians who protested against having their demands regarding divorce and remarriage ignored. Pope Shenouda III will also investigate using watchdogs to scare the protestors away and calling police forces that came and entered the Cathedral. Bishop Paula denied ordering use watchdogs to scare protestors and denied the 'battle of the dogs,' as named by protestors. He also denied calling the police forces. Bishop Paula said the protestors should not be granted the rights of remarriage because they do not have court rulings. Their reasons for remarriage do not match with Christian laws, he added. Pope Shenouda III called Adel, the man responsible of the dogs, and asked him about using dogs to scare away the protestors. Adel said that no one had given him any orders to release the dogs but that he did so when he saw the protestors detaining Bishop Paula. The investigation lasted for an hour and a half. It discussed the reasons behind the protest and problems faced by Egyptian Christians. Pope Shenouda III did not take any decisions after the first investigations. He continued with more investigations and stopped the work of the council until the investigations end. Youm7 has exclusive news about stopping the clerical council to investigate the incidents that occurred after Christians in Egypt held a protest last Monday.
