Background:

Ḥizb al-Waṭanī al-Dimuqrāṭī (The National Democratic Party (NDP)) was the ruling party of the Egyptian parliament since 1978 until 2011, when it dissolved as a result of the Egyptian Revolution. During the 1995 elections, the NDP held almost all the seats of the parliament, and mostly consisted of Muslims. Copts feel underrepresented and are running for candidacy in the elections for the People’s Assembly which took place in Shubrā, Cairo, Egypt.

For more information on the 1995 parliamentary elections, please refer to the tape Alleged Outing of Egypt’s Corrupted 1995 Parliamentary Elections (http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/alleged-outing-egypt%E2%80%99s-corrupt...).

Side A:

According to several Copts present at the elections, the Coptic community feels a lot of pain of the underrepresentation of the Copts in parliament. The Copts represent ±10% of the Egyptian population and feel a need to be integrated in society. A lot of Copts have tried to start up individual parties, while others believe this only segregates the society more. Additionally, independent parties do not have the funds to pay for the expenses of elections and campaigns which in turn will then not reach a wide public. According to Maurice Ṣādiq, an Egyptian Copt, the Egyptian government broadcasted a message stating there is no difference between Copts and Muslims, but Copts question why the NDP only consists of Muslims. The government had in the past appointed Coptic candidates, but Pope Shenūdah III’s response to this was that Copts should not be appointed by the president, but be elected through public support. The NDP officials stated that if we nominate Copt, they do not win elections, which is why they have stopped doing so. Preceding and even prior to this comment, Copts felt the need to fight their own battle to prove that they have public support and they will win.