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.