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In the previous article, we started delineating the character of renowned constitutionalist Dr. Yehya al-Gamal. He was an icon of law and literature. We spoke of his deep love for Egypt which was reflected in his writings and interviews in which he called upon her children to unite in order to save their fatherland and achieve prosperity. In an attempt to find a remedy for conflicts, he had always posed the question, \u201cWhat do we need to unite?\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span> General Bishop<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the previous article, we started delineating the character of renowned constitutionalist Dr. Yehya al-Gamal. He was an icon of law and literature. We spoke of his deep love for Egypt which was reflected in his writings and interviews in which he called upon her children to unite in order to save their fatherland and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[240,14114,682],"class_list":["post-41537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag---2","tag-14114","tag-682"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41537"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41537"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41537\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41936,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41537\/revisions\/41936"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nDr. Yehya al-Gamal rejected despair and a future that did not become Egypt\u2019s stature. He writes, \u201cEither that Egypt enjoys a great future which she deserves, or we become an uncivilized people which we never wish or deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHe believed that Egyptians have always been a civilized people that can establish a powerful state which contributes to human civilization. In effect, his heart and words bore the hope of a better future. This was expressed as follows, \u201cDespite the darkness that overwhelms Egypt, we expect a lot of good to come over.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nLikewise, Dr. al-Gamal\u2019s definition of politics was closely related to his love for Egypt. He writes, \u201cFrom my own point of view, politics is a deep responsibility for one\u2019s country of whom few are thinking honestly. Politics is being responsible for your fellow citizens and thinking of your country.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHis writings, especially the ones that presented some of his life\u2019s stages, reflect a deep concern for Egypt\u2019s and his fellow citizens\u2019 troubles. He had always dreamt of the country\u2019s enjoying more freedom and prosperity. His keenness on Egypt\u2019s increasing her wealth of knowledge was reflected in suggesting the establishment of a \u201cThink Tank\u201d that would be a consultative entity for the authorities which work for the country\u2019s welfare. He believed that, \u201cthe true power and progress possessed by any country are measured by her knowledge reserve.\u201d He said that Egypt had knowledgeable children. However, the question was, \u201cHow can all those people work as a harmonious team? Only then Egypt would have a beautiful mind and take strides toward applying a scientific approach to all fields.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDr. al-Gamal loved Egypt exceedingly, which is why he called upon her children to unite in order to confront problems. He said, \u201cWe cannot confront our reality individually, for our current circumstances make it imperative that we unite to save Egypt. Only when we unite, we can do something\u2026 I call upon all Egyptians to unite, work honestly, give the lint of their effort and pocket to their country to save her from sinking: for should this ever happen, everybody will perish.\u201d Along with his love for Egypt, he advocated democracy.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHis Belief in Democracy<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDemocracy was part and parcel of Dr. Yehya al-Gamal\u2019s disposition, which is why he spoke and wrote a lot about freedom, constitution, and the Egyptians\u2019 dignity. Throughout his life, he kept saying that the people possess the \u201cauthority and decision-making right.\u201d In his defense of democracy, he never ceased criticizing officials\u2019 stances, regardless of their positions, for the sake of Egypt\u2019s welfare. He was against the modification of article # 76 of the 1971 Constitution as well the constitutional modifications that preceded the January 25, Revolution. On many occasions, and in various political eras, Dr. al-Gamal demanded reform.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDue to his belief in democracy, he used to defend the other\u2019s right in living, expression, dialogue, and differing, while preserving his freedom and dignity. He said, \u201cI believe that recognizing the other is but a prerequisite of the culture of dialogue. No matter who the other is, he has equal rights. I am not entitled to stop him from talking, unless I listen to him. Unfortunately, the other\u2019s right is denied due to his difference in political or religious ideology or both. This is the worst of disasters: for people were created different in order that they might get to know one another and become friendly, not to conflict or fight. Let us learn how to differ. Let us learn the culture of fruitful dialogue.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDeep Affection for Pope Shenouda III<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDr. Yehya al-Gamal used to express his love for Pope Shenouda III, saying, \u201cHe is the safety valve that protects us from sedition, extremism, and deviation.\u201d Moreover, nothing could be half so expressive of the two men\u2019s mutual love than what Dr. al-Gamal used to say to the press, \u201cMy relationship with Pope Shenouda is old and deep-rooted. Many people might not believe that though I am Muslim, I feel quite comfortable when I sit to him to vent my agony and seek his prayers. I feel that his words and prayers penetrate my heart pretty easily. Forty years ago, I wrote an article entitled \u2018Uncle Michael\u2019 who was a secretary of some villages in Menoufiya. This article attracted Pope Shenouda\u2019s attention to my ideology. Then, we became good friends. Our friendship lasted till the end of the Pope\u2019s life. Each and every Egyptian knows about this friendship quite well.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nFriendship between the Pope and Dr. al-Gamal became stronger when the latter accepted to preside the defense committee of the Pope as President Sadat issued a decree to depose the Pope. His Holiness objected to that decree before the court. Dr. al-Gamal spoke of this incident, saying, \u201cHis Holiness gathered the Church\u2019s legal councilors. Mr. Helmy Raghib was one of them. He was deputy of the Lawyers Syndicate and belonged to an older generation. He told them that he chose me for the defense committee. All of them replied, \u201cHe is the best choice\u201d, though this was a compliment.\u201d <\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nYet, his Holiness told me, mouth to ear, that Dr. Yehya al-Gamal was a true defender of truth, and there is no one like him. Dr. al-Gamal continues, \u201cHis Holiness added, \u2018I chose him for three reasons. First, despite the fact that he is a devout Muslim, he willingly accepted to defend me, the head of the Coptic Church. Second, he was one of Sadat\u2019s ministers, and I am pleading against Sadat\u2019s decree. Third, though he is still on good terms with Sadat\u2019s family after the latter\u2019s death, he never hesitated to defend my cause. This incident was the beginning of our true friendship. The problem passed and the Pope returned to his See. Our friendship endured.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nThus, a deep human relationship seasoned by true affection started between the Pope and Dr. al-Gamal. So close were they that Dr. al-Gamal said, \u201cI dare call him, \u2018My dear friend, Pope Shenouda III.\u201d During Pope Shenouda\u2019s tenure, I would enter the patriarchate, making myself at home.\u201d When Dr. al-Gamal was about to be operated on, Pope Shenouda was in the United States for medical investigations. No sooner had the Pope got to know Dr. al-Gamal was hospitalized, than he hurried to visit him. What a beautiful story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nHead of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n