Many politicians and intellectuals applaud Pope Shenouda III's call to Coptic Christians to participate in upcoming parliamentary elections. The call by the head of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church is seen as a national call not only from a religious figure but from a national personality. Pope Shenouda stressed that citizens should vote for who they believe can serve Egypt and Egyptians, regardless of their religion. Many experts consider Pope Shenouda's statement is a response to those who called upon voting on the basis of religion. Legal Adviser of the Coptic Christian Organizations Union, Awad Shafiq, said Pope Shenouda sent an important message about how to participate in the elections and to obtain individual's rights. He praised Pope Shenouda's vision of participation being a national duty that every Coptic Christian should perform. Shafiq added participating in Egypt's political life protects the Coptic Christians presence in Egypt, accusing extremist Islamic trends of working to isolate Coptic Christians from Egyptian life. He also praised the Pope's call for electing Muslims who defend the Coptic Christian's rights, viewing such a call as evidence of moderation especially since Pope Shenouda did not discriminate between Muslims and Coptic Christians due to religion. Political activist Fawzy Hirmina said Pope Shenouda's message reflects participating in the election is necessary as a national duty not a religious one, underlining what he viewed as the difference between the call adopted by the Coptic Pope and the calls of others who use the religion to promote for specific candidates. Priest Saleeb Matta Sawiris said Pope Shenouda called for positive participation in political life, demanding citizens to choose the suitable person who can achieve their interests regardless of religion. Lawyer of church Maged Hana said Pope Shenouda called for Coptic Christians to participate in the next elections and to choose the suitable person they believe can serve Egyptians who do not work to achieve objectives for Egypt. He added the call was made as a response to those who called to boycott the elections, in a response to the Maspiro clashes. The Public Coordinator of Egyptian Against Religious Discrimination, Mohamed Mounir Megahed, expressed his appreciation to Pope Shenouda's call, adding that the main objective of the deadly October 9 Maspiro clashes was to exclude the Coptic Christians from Egypt's political life. Megahed said the Coptic Christians are an important power in the electoral process so Egyptians should challenge the different conditions and insist on participating in the next elections, which will contribute to draw Egypt's future. Megahed highlighted the call choosing suitable person regardless of religion, demanding citizens to choose on basis of efficiency. Catholic Bishop Botrous expressed his support for Shenouda's call, adding the Coptic Christians are Egyptian citizens so they have the same rights and duties as any other Egyptian. Botrous encourages Coptic Christians to vote for candidates who support principles of civil state including citizenship, respecting the rights of minorities, women and freedom.
