Interview: Egyptian presidential aide Samir Murqus

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – In the first interview since assuming his new post, Egyptian Presidential Assistant for Democratic Transition, Samir Murqus, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about the future of the country, his hopes for the new Egyptian presidency and the problems that may face Egypt’s Coptic community under an Islamist president.

Murqus is one of Egypt’s most respected Coptic political figures.  A one-time member of the Tagammu Party, he is a prominent liberal Coptic scholar and writer.  His appointment as one of President Mursi’s advisers, working out of the presidential palace in Cairo, may do much to allay the Coptic community’s fears regarding life under an Islamist president.

The following is the full text of the interview:

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you consider the appointment of a Copt to the post of assistant to the president to be a great achievement by the Egyptian revolution, particularly as this is the first time in Egyptian history that a Christian has been appointed as an assistant to an Islamist president?

[Murqus] First, I hate the religious classification of Egyptians as Muslims and Christians, and I do not want to be referred to according to my religious affiliated, particularly since the Christian issue and the problems of the Christians in Egypt are only one of many various concerns.  In any case, there can be no doubt that one of the objectives of the 25 January revolution, which then became one of its first achievements, was to expand and dismantle the closed elite network – if we can use this term– of government…which would supply the state establishment with executive officials.  Therefore, there has been a change within this closed network regarding who was considered “trusted” or not.  As for now, following the revolution, this network has largely been expanded, first in terms of the age standpoint, namely the age of prospective officials, and secondly from an ideological standpoint, as we are now seeing intellectuals assuming executive positions.  For example, I am considered a member of this intellectual group, and I was appointed as a deputy to the Cairo governorate almost one year ago. This was the first appointment of an intellectual, and represents a positive sign and an experience that deserves contemplation, which also creating a challenge for success.  Therefore, the [political] appointments in Egypt should include all groups; men and women, Christians and Muslims who are not affiliated with the elite or prominent families.  Such appointments must solely be based on the yardstick of efficiency and service to the homeland.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are the thorny issues that you intend to work on and prioritize as presidential assistant?  What is the first decision that you intend to take?

[Murqus] Firstly, there is something that concerns me personally, which is how to implement everything that I have struggled for – even in terms of my writing – which deals with freedom, democracy, citizenship rights, and equality.  In addition to this, there is my political struggle and action in the street over the past decades, and how to translate this in a practical and scientific way and become an effective servant of the Egyptian people.  The other issue, which is very important, is to shift the presidency from the level of the pharaoh and the rule of one figure to the level of the presidential team, in accordance with specialization, as well as making attempts to modernize the Egyptian state since the advanced world is based on the idea of qualitative specialization, and this is the starting point for progress.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you truly possess the power and capabilities to achieve all this, considering that many in Egypt believe this presidential team is nothing more than an empty gesture on the part of the Egyptian president and that it will not effectively participate in the decision-making process?

[Murqus] I certainly possess such powers. As for the file related to my job, I possess wide-ranging powers and a specific mission which will help me communicate with all the national forces and also issue decisions.  The file I am in charge of is far broader than the Coptic issue, which is something that I view as a narrow issue.  In any case, the reality will impose itself, and we should not prejudge things.  All those who know me are well aware that I will either leave my fingerprints on the post that I have been assigned, or I will leave.  I will not accept to continue in a post where I do not have a clear role.  As far as the democratic transition file is concerned, there are clear and specific tasks that have been agreed upon between the president and myself during our previous meeting.  He gave me the freedom to form my team and appoint my assistants, and this is a positive sign.  All that is left is the practical implementation of this.  Ultimately, I am carrying out a public service for the sake of God and the homeland.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you not have a problem in dealing with a president who is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, particularly as you are a Christian liberal intellectual who must therefore have strong ideological differences with him?

[Murqus] You must realize that the Muslim Brotherhood is a reality.  I am, in the first place, against any party being excluded by any other party, and I have been promoting this idea for a long time.  My personal history testifies to this, and in the past I have opposed the [political] exclusion of Communists and the Muslim Brotherhood. I also opposed the former regime’s policy of arbitrary arrests.  We must realize that the issue is for every [political] force or trend to be granted a fair degree of political expression.  If we called for this right for the Muslim Brotherhood in the past, then they must now be eager to achieve this for the other parties.  I have a famous saying which is that “Egypt cannot be built with only one colour…Egypt is built by all trends.”

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you truly believe that this is possible?

[Murqus] The initial shape of President Mursi’s regime confirms this.  There is also political and ideological diversity in the presidential team.  I am personally affiliated with the nationalist forces in their broader shape and with the trend that is able to communicate with all the national forces.  I am participating in the presidential team even though I am liberal in my ideology and left-wing as far as social justice is concerned.  I also have a special interest in the issue of the Islamic-Christian relations, and I have written many books on this topic.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] One of the main problems in Egypt today is regarding the Coptic community’s demands.  How are these being dealt with?  How can we reassure the Coptic community regarding a Muslim Brotherhood presidency?

[Murqus] I am from the school of thought that calls for reassuring the Christians by providing security and reassurance to the Egyptians in general.  We should ensure citizenship rights for all and provide justice for all.  Security cannot be ensured for a single individual in isolation of others.  If the president and the government ensure citizenship rights and justice for all, this will include the Christian community and women.  However if you give reassurances to a certain group, this would appear as if you are granting it special privileges, and this would be a mistake, because if you grant a privilege today, you can withdraw it tomorrow.  However if this is granted to everybody, then it will become the rule that nobody can withdraw; this will become a right for all Egyptian citizens.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] There are international concerns about the rights of Christians in Egypt, particularly after the Islamists assumed power.  What is your own view over such concerns?  How can these be tackled?

[Murqus] What is going on in Egypt is an Egyptian affair and the nation should tackle this.  The side that asks for protection from abroad is, at the same time, asking for others to be punished.  Any national group can coexist with other groups.  However for any party to seek strength from abroad, this will only serve to punish others.  The Christians in Egypt have understood this reality and come to the realization that the struggle for their cause must take place through involvement in the public work, participation with the Muslims and expanding the base of the Muslims who pay attention to Christian problems.