The head of the Syndicate of Lawyers, Hamdī Khalīfah, told al-Wafd that the Grand Shaykh wanted to attend the conference but he instead had to go on a business trip to Luxor. He also said that Pope Shenouda III could not attend the conference because he was sick and was getting ready to leave for Holland. Meanwhile, the Syndicate of Lawyers, in collaboration with the National Council for Human Rights, is now preparing a draft law to incriminate sectarian offenses.

Key Words: Syndicate of Lawyers - Hamdī Khalīfah - Grand Shaykh of the Azhar - Pope Shenouda III - National Council for Human Rights