Press Release: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visits The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.

Press Release

For immediate use

17 December 2013

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visited The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2013 after expressing concern about the current challenges facing Christians in some Middle-Eastern nations, and to meet members of those communities resident in the United Kingdom. His Royal Highness was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.

During this historic visit, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Ghazi were received at The Centre by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, with numerous official, government, ecumenical, and interreligious guests, along with members of the Coptic Orthodox clergy and community.

The visit began with a traditional prayer service, followed by a showcase of the vast number of ministries and strands of services operating under the umbrella of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom including, among others, benevolent work, relief and development, advocacy, youth ministry and inter-religious and ecumenical relations.

Following this, Bishop Angaelos presented two Coptic icons to Their Royal Highnesses, with an icon of Saint George gifted to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and His Royal Highness Prince George.

During the course of the visit there was a private meeting held to discuss the current situation in Egypt and the Middle East and contributions that could be made to offer viable solutions for those affected in the region. This was followed by afternoon tea in Shephalbury Manor during which the Prince of Wales unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the visit, and signed the official guestbook.

Commenting on the visit, Bishop Angaelos said:

"I am thankful for the visit of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to our Coptic Orthodox community here today, as it celebrates its presence in, and contribution to the United Kingdom, and sheds light on the increasing struggles facing Christians in the Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity. I am also appreciative of Prince Ghazi’s visit.

As we approach the Feast of the Nativity, we are also reminded that this is a time in which many in the Middle East are affected by war and conflict, but as His Royal Highness highlighted today, Christians in the region remain resilient and faithful despite the challenges faced.

With respect to Egypt, despite numerous attacks on their loyalty, Christians continue to be an integral and stabilising component of their society and have responded graciously to continued and escalating attacks, proving their commitment to a legitimate process of change.

Believing that there is always hope, we pray for this spirit of collaboration and cooperation to be a springboard to greater advocacy for, and representation of, those who do not have opportunities for their own voices to be heard, but rather rely on us to amplify those voices."

Addressing the Coptic community, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said:

"Today I just wanted to join you to express my deepest concern and deepest sympathies and solidarity with all of you because I know you will have relations in Egypt and all I can tell you is that we pray with all our heart for their safety and for their continuation in a country where Coptic Christians have played such a vital part for hundreds and hundreds of years.

They often build bridges between different groups and religions, and if I may say so I have been so full of admiration and respect for the way in which the Coptic Christians have been so full of forbearance and longsuffering that is quite remarkable, and the lack of retaliation even more remarkable. And for that, I think we owe all of you a remarkable debt, not only gratitude, but respect for living out your Christian Faith in the way that you do."

Overall, the visit highlighted Coptic Orthodox presence in the United Kingdom, and the challenges facing Christians in the Middle East, showcasing their immense contribution to their communities as active citizens of their respective countries.

The service was attended by The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, The Countess of Verulam, The Lord Bishop of London, The Right Reverent and Right Honourable Richard Chartres, The Bishop of St Albans, members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, heads and representatives of numerous Christian Churches and denominations, as well as inter-religious guests, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Following the visit is a reception at Clarence House where Their Royal Highnesses will be joined by guests representing Christians from Egypt, including Bishop Angaelos, as well as from Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Palestine and Israel.

*Ends*

For more information about The Prince of Wales please visit www.princeofwales.gov.uk

Press Release: His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom testified at a Congressional Hearing on ‘Human Rights Abuses in Egypt’ in Washington DC on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013.

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate use

10 December 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 testified at a Congressional Hearing on ‘Human Rights Abuses in Egypt’ in Washington DC on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013. 

    

Addressing the congressional panel with four other witnesses, during a Joint Subcommittee Hearing comprised of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organisations, and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, Bishop Angaelos underlined the nature and unprecedented level of violence and attacks against minority groups in Egypt pre and post 2011 uprising.

Highlighting a number of incidents occurring in recent months and years, he spoke of the increased incitement that led to the burning, demolition, and attacks on scores of churches, the kidnapping of Christian girls, restrictions on the choice or expression of faith, and the increasing violent attacks resulting in loss of life, and the displacement and destruction of property over decades.

Speaking on behalf of all minorities Bishop Angaelos said:

“I do not only speak as a Christian, because that would be very un-Christian of me. We speak as Christians for everyone, and our view of human rights is for a human rights perspective that covers every person.”

Saying the following regarding the political situation in Egypt:

“What we need to address at the moment are issues of illiteracy and poverty that make constituents vulnerable when they vote and are manipulated, either financially, or in terms of ideology, and of course religion becomes a part of that. What we also need is foreign investment and tourism to bolster the economy and enable people to sustain their families and communities.”

In conclusion, Bishop Angaelos spoke of Christians in Egypt as those who remain loyal to, and take pride in, their indigenous homeland despite the various challenges faced, saying:

“We speak as Christians with hope, and we have faced persecution far greater than this. We are still there as the largest Christian denomination in the Middle East and as the last actual bastion of Christian presence in the region.”

Shortly after the hearing, and in commenting further on the state of minorities in Egypt, Bishop Angaelos said:

“While we do not seek to place blame on the current leadership, it is evident that over the past decades there has been little done to ensure that these violent acts do not reoccur. Since the uprising, and due to a decrease in law and order resulting from the turbulent period under the rule of Mr Mohammed Morsi, there have been increasing challenges facing Christian and minority groups in Egypt. Having said that, and in looking to the future, we continue to support the current process of rebuilding Egypt with a new constitution and ethos, and support the whole community as it calls for change.

We pray, that with the good intention of all to move past these challenging times in Egypt’s history, the implementation of equality before the law will ensure that Egypt becomes a better place for all citizens on the basis that they are Egyptian before anything else, whether they are the numeric majority or minority, man or woman, young or old, secular or religious, Bahá’i, Christian or Muslim.”

Testifying alongside Bishop Angaelos, Mr Samuel Tadros, Research Fellow at Hudson Institute’s Centre for Religious Freedom said:

“In order to prevent recurring attacks there must be a process put in place to identify the most vulnerable villages in Egypt that are likely to experience attacks. The Egyptian government should be urged to implement this and the United States may be able to provide resources to help with that process. The Egyptian police also need a security protocol to deal with mob violence and should establish a crisis office within the Egyptian presidency to deal specifically with that issue, as well as the development of a rapid response unit. We also need reform in the legal system, and localised reward and punishment system.”

Other witnesses included:

Zuhdi Jasser, M.D. Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Morad Abou-Sabe, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University         
Mr. Tad Stahnke, Director of Policy and Programs, Human Rights First

*Ends*

Resources:

·         Watch the Hearing here: http://1.usa.gov/18P78qK

·         Transcript and Copy of Testimony submitted to Congress available upon request.

·         Statement by Bishop Angaelos, highlighting the increasing incitement and violence threatening and claiming the lives of Christians in Egypt. http://bit.ly/1cn7eBf

Press Release: HG Bishop Angaelos will testify at a Congressional Hearing on 'Human Rights Abuses in Egypt' on 10 December 2013

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate use

9 December 2013

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

On 10 December 2013, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom will testify at a Congressional Hearing in Washington DC on ‘Human Rights Abuses in Egypt’ during a Joint Subcommittee Hearing comprised of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.

At 9am EST on 10 December, also deemed Human Rights Day, Bishop Angaelos and four other witnesses, will highlight the severity and frequency of human rights abuses facing Christians and minority groups in Egypt both pre and post 2011 uprising.

Bishop Angaelos will also identify the increased persecution of religious minorities over the past decades as made manifest in process and policy, which has translated into dealings with citizens on unequal grounds, inevitably resulting in greater division and marginalisation.

Alongside Bishop Angaelos, witnesses include:

Zuhdi Jasser, M.D. Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Mr. Samuel Tadros, Research Fellow, Centre for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute

Morad Abou-Sabe, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University         
Mr. Tad Stahnke, Director of Policy and Programs, Human Rights First

*Ends*

Resources:

Live Feed from Congress available here: http://1.usa.gov/1bRPvqK

House Committee on Foreign Affairs: http://1.usa.gov/18P78qK