As’ad refused the appointment of a Copt as vice president “just because he is a Copt,” adding this “could mark the beginning of the quota system in politics, which is not good”.

He said that the appointment of a Coptic VP to express the problems facing Copts further entrenches the religious state because it is the church that is going to control the choices and this consequently clashes with the principles of a civil state advocated by all Egyptian in general and Copts in particular.

“I would not be honored to be in this position through the backing or choice of the church simply because I refuse the church’s control over Copts,” said an embattled As’ad.

Coptic thinker Kamāl Zākhir Mūsá, the coordinator of the Coptic Laymen Front, said the idea involves several dilemmas more than it would bring solutions to Coptic problems, adding the powers and tasks of the possible Coptic vice president are much more important than the position itself. [Ahmad Abū Hajar, al-Wafd, July 2, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic