Pope Shenouda satisfied with Al Nabaa closure, thanks Mubarak

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Shenouda III thanked President Hosni Mubarak for his treatment of the crisis following the printing of an indecent story on ex-Coptic cleric and the ensuing closure of the tabloid paper that published it.

The Pope, speaking at his weekly sermon to the Coptic Orthodox congregation Wednesday night, thanked the President Mubarak for his wise treatment of the crisis and expressed satisfaction over the verdict issued by the Administrative Judicial Court ordering the closure of the tabloid Al Nabaa newspaper.

He voiced high respect for the Muslims of Egypt for the moral support they extended to the Copts in facing such an incident, foremost Al Azhar Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi.

The Pope also greeted Press Syndicate Chairman Ibrahim Nafei and Syndicate Council for their courageous and firm stances in the treatment of the crisis and the suspension of Mamdouh Mahran, the paper's editor, from the syndicate and his referral to an emergency state security court on charges of sedition and inciting sectarian strife.

He further greeted the police for its sound treatment of quelling protests and demonstrations as Christians were expressing their profound anger and the psychological pressure they underwent as a result of the allegations in the paper.