Egyptians today expressed fears of sectarian strife in Upper Egypt following calls from the Muslim brotherhood to accept the constitutional amendments and calls from the Coptic church to reject them.
Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians from Upper Egypt today went to polling stations to cast their votes in the first referendum following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Eye witnesses told Al-Masry Al-Youm that voters queued up in long lines in front of polling stations in Minya and Assiut; a scene that was uncommon during the reign of Mubarak.
Local residents said they feared the breakout of a sectarian problem since Copts are thought to generally reject the amendments, which they say has caused Muslims to go in large numbers to offset their vote.
In Assiut, Mohamed Ghali, 30, an activist, said Copts are flocking to polling stations after mosque imams in Dairout called for accepting the amendments.
Ghali added that mosque imams have said that a “Yes” vote is a religious obligation, and he fears this may lead to a sectarian divide.
In Deir Mawwas, Minya, Mostafa Salem, 26, a teacher, described the situation as tense, adding that thousands of Copts are heading to polling stations.
He added that cars have been passing by the homes of Copts to gather them to go to polling stations. The Brotherhood, meanwhile, are urging the people to accept the amendments.
Church sources had told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the Coptic church rejects the amendments and calls for a new constitution. The Muslim Brotherhood, on the other hand, has said it endorses them.
