ICC Note: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II this Thursday to encourage the unity of Egyptians and disallow religion to divide the nation. This follows a spike in sectarian attacks between Muslims and Christians in Egypt in the past weeks. El-Sisi stressed that all Egyptians are equal, including the Christian community. He urged Pope Tawadros II to continue to encourage the Coptic community to strive for unity over hatred.

07/29/2016 Egypt (Ahram Online): Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II on Thursday that all Egyptians are equal in their rights and duties in accordance with the constitution during a meeting held in the wake of recent sectarian attacks in Upper Egypt.

Last week, Muslim assailants set ablaze Christian homes in the village of Abu Yacoub in Minya over a rumour that a Christian intended to turn a kindergarten into a church.

Also last week, a Muslim mob stabbed a Christian to death in Minya’s Tahna village during a street dispute.

The two incidents were the latest in a string of incidents involving attacks on Christians in Upper Egypt in the past month.

Presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement that El-Sisi stressed during the meeting with the pope the importance of maintaining unity among all Egyptians.

The Egyptian president praised the “wise and patriotic” spirit that Egyptian Christians have displayed in dealing with challenges throughout the past few years, and warned of the danger posed by those who would use religion as a tool for division or to foster extremist ideas.

El-Sisi also praised efforts of the Egyptian Family House, a semi-official group of Muslim and Christian leaders who promote peaceful coexistence, and stressed the importance of increased cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Coptic Church.

He added that these “individual incidents” s

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