Pope of Alexandria Coptic Orthodox Church says 'July 30 was a popular revolution'

What happened in Egypt on July 30 was not a coup, the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria said.

Speaking to a delegation from Britain’s House of Lords and House of Commons on Sunday Pope Tawadros II said: “It was a popular revolution supported by the church and Al Azhar. The army has intervened at the time to realise the people’s demands.”

“The church has paid the price for its stance. A group of terrorists have burned 100 churches as well as many state institutions. We pray for peace and progress to our Egypt,” he continued. Tawadros urged the British delegation to support the Egyptian interim government during the coming period both economically and on the educational level.

The British delegation included Lord Raymond Hylton, director of the Middle East Economic Forum, Baroness Elizabeth Bay Ridge, member of the Committee on Human Rights, Lord Stone of the Labour Party and Lord Marlesford of the Conservative Party. The representatives of the British House of Commons were: Jeffrey Donaldson, a member of the Defence committee, Tim Yeo, member of the Sustainability Committee, Stephen Timms of the Labour Party and Bob Walter, a member of the Conservative Party.