Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

US

Egypt's Coptic church criticized over el-Sissi rallies at UN

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • 2a471d77-
    Image 1 of 2

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi looks at his notes after speaking at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (The Associated Press)

  • 914a0000-
    Image 2 of 2

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (The Associated Press)

CAIRO – Egypt's Coptic Christian church is facing criticism over its role in organizing rallies in support of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi during his visit to the U.N. General Assembly.

Egypt's Christian minority has strongly supported el-Sissi since he came to power following the military's overthrow of an Islamist president in 2013.

But this week dozens of prominent Christians released a statement expressing concern about the church's deepening involvement in politics.

El-Sissi traveled to New York with a large delegation of loyal parliamentarians and media figures. The visit is partially aimed at improving Egypt's image after it has come under criticism from rights groups and Western nations over a sweeping crackdown on dissent.

El-Sissi conferred on the sidelines with foreign leaders as well as U.S. presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.