U.S. Copts Association

By  Amr Bayoumi   

More than 21 Copts lodged appeals to the Administrative Judiciary Court against the amendments introduced to the 1938 statute relating to the Christians’ personal status.

 They called for canceling the administrative decree issued by the Orthodox Church’s General Congregation Council amending the statute.

Lawyer Magdi Fouad said he had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Magdi William, divorcee of Hala Sedki, against the General Congregation Council’s decree.

He regarded the decree as null and void because it was issued by an administrative body that has no competence to introduce amendments. “We called for immediately stopping the enforcement of the statute,” he said, noting that the court session would be held next week.

The Personal Status Court had earlier cancelled a decision by Pope Shenouda banning the marriage of divorcees and obliged him to bless their marriage on the grounds that the decision is a material obstacle that should be removed.

For his part, Magdi William threatened to institute legal proceedings against Pope Shenouda because of his refusal to give him a remarriage permit. He said he had submitted a note to the public prosecutor against the Pope’s arbitrary stance.

William revealed negotiations with a bishop close to Pope Shenouda, during which the bishop asked him to give up the lawsuits filed against the Pope at first and the Pope will consider his problem and give him a remarriage permit. “The bishop told me that stubbornness is not useful in dealing with the Pope. You should show him submission and obedience.”

William lashed out at the Church and its permanent allegation that it carries out the commandments of the Jesus mentioned in the Bible. He said, “The Pope uses force in the country and creates a state within the state.”

“Paying a compliment to Hala Sedki, permitting her remarriage and changing her denomination and then accepting her into the Orthodox sect once again was not mentioned in the Jesus commandments or the Bible.”

On the other hand, Dr Tharwat Bassili, the council secretary, undermined the importance of such appeals, saying, “The appeal is valueless till a court ruling is issued canalling the amendments. There is no problem, as several appeals have been lodged against laws and republican decrees but to no avail.”