Coptic Reform Society

coptic reform society, founded around 1907-1908 by Akhnukh Fanus, a lawyer and journalist of British education. After the attempts by some Copts to establish a Coptic political party were rejected by a majority who preferred not to link Coptic interests with political activity, the Reform Society was founded as an organization to defend Coptic interests. Most members were employees of the Egyptian State Railways or school teachers. They demanded equal opportunities to be afforded to Coptic applicants for administrative government posts, a major grievance of the Copts under British control. They accused both the British and Egyptian authorities of restricting access of Copts to those posts. However, according to British statistics and statements, the Copts were already overrepresented in administrative posts.