If the State uses religion to achieve its political goals it will collide with religious parties, particularly since religion carries significant weight in society, according to a recent study prepared by the Arabian Center for Research and Political Study. The study, titled, “Coptic Discrimination and State Exclusion in Egypt,” and prepared by Mai Mesed, claims “Coptic” does not mean religion, but rather means “Egyptian.” Therefore, Copts should first be distinguished as a religious party and Copts as a social category. The study also indicates there are some elements that exclude Coptic citizens from receiving social, economic and political benefits. Some factors include: • Sectarian elements that are related to relations between Muslims and Christians • Economic elements that stir conflict between poor and rich people • Political elements between leaders of minorities and the wider society. These elements affect the relationships between power and social categorization and are connected to religious and cultural differences. Foreign countries use these dimensions to effect religious parties, which is known as “politicizing religion” or “religious politics.”
