Survey: Low Coptic intention to participate in elections

 

Naguib Gabriel, head of the union

By NADER SHOUKRY - Translated by HEBA HABIB

The Egyptian Union of Human Rights conducted an opinion poll on the participation of Copts in the upcoming elections and the extent of their vision for the success of the Copts in parliament.

The results indicated that 23% of Copts intend to participate in the elections, while 67% of those polled would not be participating.

The survey covered the governorates of Cairo, Alexandria, Beni Suef, Minya, Fayoum, Sohag, Asyut, and Giza. The sample included 5,000 Copts from each province.

Naguib Gabriel, head of the union, said that the results indicated that 50% of Copts in Cairo, 40% of those in Alexandria, 30% in Beni Suef, 30% in Sohag, 10% in Minya, and 10% in Fayoum intended to participate.

Gabriel added that the average participation ratio of the volume of the sample, which represented was 23% down from up 80% in the constitutional referendum.

Gabriel attributed the decline in this ratio to the events of sectarian violence and the sense amongst the Coptic minority that the authorities are not addressing their problems