Sisi 'descended from heaven,' claims Egyptian Coptic priest

An Egyptian Coptic priest has sparked controversy in Egypt after claiming that it was 'God's hand' that brought President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to power.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

06 October, 2019

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power after a military coup [Getty]

An Egyptian priest has caused a social media stir after claiming that President President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is "descended from heaven".

Makari Younan, a Coptic clergyman, made the remarks while defending his decision to be part of the crowd that greeted the president upon his arrival back in Egypt from New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

During his absence, rare protests broke out across Egypt in response to allegations that Sisi had siphoned public funds to build a palace and several luxury villas.

"I am not a politician" Yunnan said in response to his critics. "What you may think is a policy is [actually] a matter of my salvation and eternal life."

In his defence, Younan heaped praise on the president, who seized power following the military coup against Egypt's first democratically-elected leader in 2013.

Sisi, Younan claimed, did not take up the nation's highest post in the pursuit of money or wealth, but rather "because he loves Egypt".

The recent protests across Egypt were triggered by videos posted online by self-exiled businessman Mohamed Aly, who has claimed large-scale corruption by the military and government.

Sisi has dismissed the allegations as "lies", while also arresting more than 2,300 people in connection with the protests. At least 111 children, aged between 11 and 17, are among those detained, according to Belady for Rights and Freedoms.

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