A delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) wound up a fact-finding visit to Egypt Tuesday before it is due to report back to Washington.
The delegation met earlier this week with top Muslim clerics and state-supported human rights groups. But according to the Egyptian daily Al Masry Al Youm the Coptic Pope Shenouda III refused to meet with the delegation and accused it of "interfering in Egypt's domestic affairs."
An official from the Coptic Church could not be reached for comment.
USCIRF Communications Director Tom Carter told The Media Line that USCIRF could not comment regarding meeting the Coptic leadership "due to the sensitive nature of [the] request."
