More than 100 leading Christians in Egypt have signed a petition denouncing right-wing US Baptist minister Jerry Falwell for calling Prophet Mohamed a terrorist, in a petition received by AFP.
"For nearly 30 years, Minister Falwell has been insulting Arabs, Muslims but also Christians who do not share his opinions," said the petition signed by 131 Copts.
"We, signatories of this petition, share the pain that our Muslim brothers feel following the minister's remarks," said the petition signed by leading professionals and intellectuals among Egypt's minority Coptic community.
"We are telling this minister that the prophet of Islam is far removed from all these lies, and we know that Falwell and his like do not know the true face of Islam, which is a religion of tolerance," they added.
Among the signatories were filmaker Yussef Shaheen, writer Milad Hanna, actress Hala Sedki, producer Khairi Beshara, and journalist Louis Greiss.
Last Saturday, Falwell apologized for his "terrorist" remark which stirred outrage throughout the Muslim world and a call from an Iranian newspaper for the Baptist minister to be killed.