Bishop Angaelos attends swearing in ceremony in Washington for Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom

For immediate use
20 February 2015

​Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

Bishop Angaelos attends swearing in ceremony of new Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom, Rabbi David Saperstein in Washington DC

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom met with Ambassador Saperstein during his swearing in ceremony at the State Department. In his inaugural address, the Ambassador mentioned the recent brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya, highlighting the need to protect religious freedom for all in the region.

Prior to the ceremony, Bishop Angaelos met with the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wuerl, Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos foundation, members of the United States Commission for Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and various representatives of the State Department. This meeting, hosted by In Defense of Christians, incorporated a press conference and round table meeting addressing responses to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. 

During the press conference Cardinal Wuerl expressed his concern for, and solidarity with, the Coptic Orthodox Community in light of the murder of Coptic Christians in Libya, saying:

“I am here to say to Bishop Angaelos that we are raising our voice with you…and I thank him for being a part of this important conversation.”

In response Bishop Angaelos said:

“The truth must be spoken, and people of faith must speak to protect the rights of all regardless of their religious affiliation. As we attempt to respond to the atrocities that are facing various Christian and faith communities in the Middle East and across the world we must ensure that we do not allow hatred to enter our hearts.”

Katrina Lantos Swett, members of USCIRF, representatives of the State Department, and Nermine Riad of Coptic Orphans, were also present during the press conference.

Bishop Angaelos also attended a round-table meeting and discussion arranged by Nina Shea Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute on nuanced approaches to religious freedom and engagement.

Statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom highlighting the increasing incitement and violence threatening and claiming the lives of Christians in Egypt.

In the recent weeks and months there has been an escalation of attacks against Christians in Egypt, with unfounded, dangerous, and unlawful incitement emerging from various fringe Islamist leaders spurring on more violent acts and illegal behaviour that continues to injure and claim the lives of many Egyptian Christians.  

A number of Egypt-based human rights organisations, with Amnesty International UK, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have spoken out regarding attacks on Christians since the ousting of the former president, expecting similar acts in the coming period if these matters are not sufficiently addressed.

Most recently a violent attack on the Church of St George was followed by the raising of an Al Qaeda flag on its premises while congregation members were locked inside the church building. Churches across Upper Egypt including Minya, Asyut, and Luxor have suffered violent and destructive attacks and serious vandalism, with Christian homes and businesses also set alight. Callers to current affairs programmes on certain television channels, using hate speech, have rallied for the attack on, and eradication of, Christians and Churches.  These acts and threats all contribute to a very real risk upon the life of every Christian, especially in the increasingly polarised and inflamed climate in Egypt. As a result of these threats, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II has suspended weekly public events out of concern over potential attacks on congregations.  

At a time where attempts are being made to move Egypt into a more unified state, and where there is opportunity for collaboration and reconciliation, we are instead witnessing, once again, a polarised society in which unprecedented acts against Egyptian Christians are being carried out without fear of reprisal.

Imbalanced media coverage depicts scenes of violence in one part of the community as victimisation, while ignoring or labelling the savage attacks against Christians, on what is developing into a daily occurrence, as ‘sectarian’.

It is important to value and protect every sector of a shared society, especially that which has been accused for decades of being unfaithful and resorting to foreign support, while what has been revealed recently is of course quite the opposite.

Egypt cannot move forward while state apparatus does not hold people accountable for these unlawful hate crimes that stand to divide the country further, promoting increased polarisation at every level. Proactive efforts must be made towards promoting social cohesion and inclusion for all members of society so that this new phase of Egyptian history can be built upon true unity, collaboration, and reconciliation. We pray for all those who have lost loved ones over the past few days, weeks, and months and for all Egyptians as they seek to reclaim a sense of national identity in these formative days.  

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For the Press Release click here

Press Release: His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom releases a statement highlighting the increasing incitement and violence threatening and claiming the lives of Christians in Egypt.

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate use

8 August 2013

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom releases a statement highlighting the increasing incitement and violence threatening and claiming the lives of Christians in Egypt. 

The statement comes shortly after a number of Egyptian and International human rights organisations warn of a wave of violence to come, with Amnesty InternationalUK, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), and the U.S. Commissionon International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) releasing reports detailing the violence facing Copts since the ousting of the former president of Egypt.

In his statement, Bishop Angaelos said:

“Egypt cannot move forward while state apparatus does not hold people accountable for these unlawful hate crimes that stand to divide the country further, promoting increased polarisation at every level. Proactive efforts must be made towards promoting social cohesion and inclusion for all members of society so that this new phase of Egyptian history can be built upon true unity, collaboration, and reconciliation.”

In a report released in July 2013, Amnesty International UK stated:

 “First and foremost, the authorities must immediately take necessary measures to ensure security for Christians and other minorities and uphold their right to life and physical integrity.”

In August 2013, the EIPR released a report that stated:

“The undersigned organizations note the destructive effects both of the sectarian rhetoric used by some Islamists to incite against Christians and of the negligence demonstrated by security forces in protecting these citizens.”

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Resources:

Amnesty International Report, July 2013: http://bit.ly/164IkV0
EIPR Report, August 2013: http://bit.ly/1bC1I0q
USCIRF Annual Report 2013: http://1.usa.gov/135JPTy and http://1.usa.gov/14nF6h8