MPs describe U.S. resolution on Copts as ‘hallucinations’

CAIRO – 25 December 2017: The U.S. House of Representatives issued on Thursday a resolution “expressing concern over attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt,” citing discrimination and urging the government to undertake “serious reforms” to improve the status of Christians in Egypt.

Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee in Parliament, Alaa Abed, described all talks on human rights violations in Egypt as groundless allegations by terrorism supporters, stipulating that Egypt’s strict stance on Jerusalem caused “hallucinations and craziness to some.”

Parliamentarian Amin Masoud, Member of “Egypt Support” Parliamentary Coalition, issued a statement sharing the same opinion as Abed, saying that the U.S. institutions “got crazy” as a result of Egypt’s solid stance on Jerusalem.

Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee in Parliament, Margeret Azer, told Egypt Today, “Washington must refrain from intervening in Egypt’s internal affairs.

Copts are citizens who enjoy all rights, and have duties. The political leadership always asserts the principle of citizenship and admits the rights of Copts. Terror attacks are not targeted at Copts only but it is a war threatening all segments in the country. A case in point is the recent attack on Rawda mosque.”

Azer added that such a resolution is clearly a reaction to Egypt backing the Palestinian cause, which crystallized after the recent crisis ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Parliament Member and Chairperson of the Free Egyptians Party, Essam Khalil, declared that his party would pay close attention to resolutions issued by the U.S.
Congress regarding Egypt in order to clarify the real situation in Egypt. His explanation to the timing of releasing the resolution is the same as his fellow Parliamentarians, who said the resolution came as a result of Egypt’s actions regarding Jerusalem.

The U.S. Congress resolution was issued on the same day 128 states voted in favor of Egyptian-drafted resolution at the Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly opposing the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which breaches previous United Nations (UN) resolutions on the historic city.

Trump announced on December 6 that the embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognizing the city as the Israeli Capital.

As a consequence, Egypt drafted a resolution stating, “That any decisions and actions, which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem, have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

The resolution had been approved by a 14 -1 vote at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on December 18 before it was vetoed by the U.S. whose Permanent Envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, said that the vote was an insult that would not be forgotten.

Later on, Yemen and Jordan called for holding the 193-state Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly triggering Trump to threaten cutting aid to countries voting in favor of the resolution, after Haley said that the U.S. delegation would be taking names.