next Sun ROME, Jan 3 (KUNA) -- Bishop of the Coptic Church in Rome, Barnaba el Soryany, on Monday, announced that he will not accept participation of Muslim community representatives in Rome in a demonstration slated for next Sunday.
The demonstration is called to commemorate the victims of the suicide attack that targeted a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt on New Year's Eve. The attack resulted in some 21 killed and 97 others injured.
"I shall never accept that representatives of Rome's Muslim community should join us for next Sunday's demonstration," The Italian News Agency (ANSA) quoted el Soryany as saying earlier today.
The Bishop told ANSA that he was nonetheless "heartened" by the many other religious communities and institutions joining in the demonstration.
In reference to his wish to exclude both Muslim religious and political representatives, el Soryany added he was "unafraid to say so". (end) mn.hb KUNA 040029 Jan 11NNNN