“Out of respect for people’s demands in the Coptic street not to accept congratulations from those with hands dipped in the blood of their honorable sons, the Maspero Youth Union announces its refusal to accept their greetings as well as the greetings of those who advocated the disruption of the nation and played a key role in the fitnah,” the Union said in a statement on January 3.

“Taking into account the massacres committed against the people, the destruction and burning of churches, mowing of civilians and dragging of young girls on the ground the nation has been going through last year, we confirm our full respect for Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III and the church but reject his invitations to the political Islam groups to attend the Coptic Christmas Mass,” read the statement.

Regarding the participation of Salafists in the protection of churches, the statement wondered, “How should we accept calls for the protection of our churches by the very persons who attempted to raid churches and announced we’re infidels”. [Yūsuf Rāmiz, Al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 4, p. 3]