Prosecutor's proposal threatens Sinai monastery talks with Cairo
A prosecutor's recommendation to reject the St. Catherine's Monastery appeal could derail ongoing settlement talks with Cairo, according to religious leaders.
The prosecutor of Egypt's highest cassation court has put forward a suggestion to reject the St. Catherine's Monastery's appeal in its entirety, while partially endorsing the state's legal points. This recommendation, disclosed by the Matsda2sh platform, would leave the monastery's reversal request untouched but accept parts of the government's argument, creating a marked legal asymmetry. Religious leaders consulted by the Greek Orthodox outlet «Εφ.Συν.» argue that any court decision issued before a settlement with Cairo would eliminate the basis for negotiations.
Ongoing talks involving Athens, Cairo and the monastery have been seeking a definitive agreement for months. Although the prosecutor's view is not a binding decision, its adoption could make the negotiation climate considerably less favorable for the monastery. Consequently, church representatives stress that an agreement must be reached prior to any judicial verdict, otherwise the window for compromise will close permanently.
