Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Rānyā Khalīl Ibrāhīm, the heroine of yet another sectarian trouble sparked recently in Mīt Bashār village, Minyā al-Qamh town, al-Sharqia governorate, said that she was not kidnapped and that she left her father’s home with her own free will. [‘Ādil al-Shā’ir, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Feb. 19, p. 6] Read text in Arabic

The area of al-'Āmirīyah, west of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, has been the scene of deplorable incidents when Muslims and Christians exchanged fire, leaving three wounded and setting some stores on fire, after a young man saved the images of a young girl on his cell phone and showed them to his friends. [Nāsir Juwaydah, al-Ahrām, Jan. 29, p. 18] Read original text in Arabic

The ‘urfī (conciliatory) council of the elders of Muslims and Copts in Asyut governorate managed to restore calm to al-‘Adar on the third day of sectarian incidents in the village and some other neighboring villages, sparked after a Coptic high school student has reportedly published cartoons offensive to Muslims on his Facebook page. [‘Abduh Hasānyn and Ahmad al-Asyūtī, Al-Wafd, Jan. 2, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic 

I have recently noticed newspapers belonging to religious parties appear on the stands, which is fine as long they observe national principles, but I am afraid there might appear Christian newspapers to confront the Islamist ones, writes Usāmah Salāmah, Editor-in-Chief of Rose al-Yūsuf magazine.

The town of al-Najājrah, in the governorate of Aswan, experienced a sectarian crisis following a brawl between a number of Copts and Muslims because of neighborhood disputes.

They threw stones at each other which resulted in two people being injured.

Prosecutors are still looking into the case.

[Reviewer's note: The article is not available on the Internet]

A report on the situation of religious freedoms around the world - and countries that have failed to effectively protect them - was issued yesterday (September 14) by the U.S. Department of State. Middle Eastern and African countries were numerous, and Egypt was one of these countries to be reported on, noting the sectarian strife plaguing the country in the post-Mubārak era.

Shubrāh al-Khaymah erupted after the unfortunate events in the region following the harassment by some of the Christian youth in the area of a Muslim girl. Both a Muslim and a Christian died.

Security forces coordinated with families of the villages in Minya after an incident erupted between Muslims and Copts over a speed bump outside the house of a Muslim citizen. It developed into a brawl which left a Christian citizen dead and 6 Muslims wounded. 6 houses were burnt as well as a private car, and a mosque and church were damaged in the villages of Faraj Allah and al-Hawārtah.

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The National Justice Committee has drafted a unified law on places of worship, aiming to curb fitnah ṭā’ifīyah, which will offer new approaches in aspects such as transfer of licenses, regardless of religion or location.

These plans come in the wake of the May attacks on churches in Imbābah.

Some participants in the press conference held by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on July 12, 2011 commented on recent reports promoting the establishment of a Coptic state in Egypt.

SCAF member Maj. General Mahmūd Hijāzī said that Egypt, throughout its history, has never been hit by any sectarian troubles, adding these are just attempts by the "enemies of the state" to create problems between the army and the Egyptian people.

SCAF member Maj. General Mamdūh Shāhīn said there are no sectarian troubles. "The incidents that involved Muslims and Christians could have happened between Muslims and Muslims or Christians and Christians."