American Muslims and Copts Urge Egypt To Adopt Religious Equality and Secular Legal System In New Constitution

RNS reports on a letter released Tuesday from Muslim and Coptic Christian leaders in the United States calling on Egypt's new government that is drafting a constitution for the country to "recognize the equality of all Egyptians and to reject any language that would discriminate against any citizen of Egypt on the basis of that citizen's religion or gender." The letter also urged Egyptians to reject language that would describe Shariah as the source of the country's laws. Among those signing the letter were U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison;  Imam Mohamed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America; and Rev. Hegomen Moises Bogdady and the Rev. Michael Sorial, priests with the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. The joint letter was sponsored by the Arab American Institute.