3 Salafis were arrested on Friday after distributing leaflets inciting against the Copts in Assiut. The leaflets invited the people not to vote for the Coptic candidates in the Parliamentary elections. Islamic candidates are going to use such leaflets to prevent the people from voting in favor of Coptic Christian candidates.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, inaugurated yesterday the launch of St. George and S. Joseph in San Jose, California.

Results of voting inside Egypt in the first phase of legislative elections were announced yesterday.

Egyptian newspapers said that several Coptic candidates win elections in Minya. This came after all candidates of the ultra conservative al-Nour party lost the elections of the first phase in Upper Egypt.

Ambassador Lamia Mukhaimar Egypt's Consul in Los Angeles held a celebration for Pope Tawadros II who is currently visiting America.

Egyptian writer Sabri Albaga denounced the weak participation in the voting process by the Egyptians abroad. He said that it’s weird to find this with the participation of 32 candidates of the Egyptians abroad on the electoral lists.

Eyewitnesses reported supporters of the candidates of al-Nour party in Qena harassed a number of Coptic voters in front of poll stations in Qena.

Dr. Yasser Al Borhamy, vice president of the Salafist call in Alexandria, said al-Nour Party worries that the Liberal Egyptians party, founded and financed by Coptic businessman Naguib Sawiros, is going to harvest several votes in the elections.

Egyptian Consul in New York, Ambassador Ahmed Farouk, said that the Egyptians participated actively in the elections with a great sense of responsibility.

Egyptian newspapers highlighted contradictory situation of the ultra conservative al-Nour Party between attacking the Copts and calling them infidels from one hand, and asking for their support in the parliamentary elections on the other hand.

Ahmed A. member of al-Nour party was arrested in Aswan for paying electoral bribes in front of electoral polls.

Elderly and people with special needs participated actively in first stage of the parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Naguib Sawiris, Coptic businessman and founder of the Free Egyptians Party, filed a complaint today to the Attorney General against the Salafi Nour Party, and its spokesperson Nader Bakkar.

International Religious Freedom Report said that circumstances of the Coptic Christians have improved after the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsy.

A number of Coptic activists attacked Coptic members of al-Nour ultra conservative party after head of the party attacked the Copts in his interview to German newspaper.

Dr. Younes Makhioun, head of the Salafi al-Nour Party, said that newspapers misrepresented his recent remarks on the Copts.

Margaret Azer, former MP, said that al-Nour ultra conservative party doesn’t believe in equal citizenship. She added that Coptic members of the Islamic party have betrayed their country by supporting this party that incites against Christians and prohibit congratulating them on their feasts.

Maj. Gen. Magdi Abdul Ghaffar, Minister of the Interiors, promised to protect the Copts during the voting process, and that security forces won’t allow preventing them from reaching the polling places.

Nader Sairafi, founder of "Copts 38" movement, said that the movement doesn’t attack the church, but rather seeks its reform.

Father Poulos Halim, spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that the Church does not interfere in politics and stands at the same distance from all the candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Pope Francis prays for Christians of the Middle East calling to discard the escalating violence in the Middle East.