Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Acting patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church Bishop Pachomius said he is not ready to run for the papal post, adding he is more than 77 years old and has his own congregation in the northern Egypt governorate of al-Beheira. [Majdī Fikrī and Hānī Samīr, al-Dustūr, April 23, p. 3] Read text in Arabic

Pressures are being practiced to convince acting patriarch Bishop Pachomius to quit his current interim position to officially run in the elections to select a new pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church in succession of deceased Pope Shenouda III. ['Abd al-Wahāb, al-Wafd, April 22, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic

A recent visit by Muftī of the Republic Dr. ‘Alī Jum’ah to Jerusalem and prayers at the al-Aqsá Mosque along with official Jordanian figures sparked a row among clerics and scholars in the Muslim world. [Ahmad ‘Abd al-Fattāh and Nādir Abū al-Futūh, al-Ahrām, April 19, p. 13] Read original text in Arabic

The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) held the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and police "entirely responsible" for any loss of life, property or that Copts besieged inside a church in the village of Mīt Bashār in al-Zaqāzīq, al-Sharqia governorate, or the Muslims trying to protect the church to any harm on the grounds that they are in charge of security in the country. [Muhammad Imām, al-Jumhūrīyah, Feb. 16, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

A coalition grouping Muslims and Christians for the first time was founded by with the aim of deepening full citizenship and freedoms of opinion and expression in accordance with the international law, the UN Charter, international human rights covenants and the Egyptian society’s norms and ethic. [Shādyah Yūsuf, al-Ahrām, Feb. 10, p. 10] Read original text in Arabic

Grand Shaykh of the Azhar Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyīb said that all documents, statements and decisions as well as meetings held at the Azhar headquarters throughout last year was not an attempt to get the top Sunni Muslim establishment to play a political role but rather out of keenness on the nation's unity. [Khālid al-Mat'anī and Muhammad 'Abd al-Khāliq, al-Ahrām, Jan. 18, p. 14] Read original text in Arabic

Bishop Basantī of Helwan and al-Ma'sarah said that Copts do not oppose Muslims in the implementation of the Islamic sharī'ah as long as it is taking into account the rights of Copts. [Muhammad 'Abd al-Shāfī, al-Ahrām, Jan. 17, p. 14] Read original text in Arabic

Former Arab League Secretary General and presidential hopeful 'Amr Mūsá said Copts are Egyptian citizens who enjoy all rights and must observe all duties. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Akhbār, Jan. 16, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Grand Shaykh of the Azhar Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyīb and men of letters declared a statement on basic rights in Arab countries after a three-month thorough study and meetings at the Azhar headquarters. [Muhammad 'Abd al-Khāliq, al-Ahrām, Jan. 11, p. 7] Read original text in Arabic

Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, welcomed Dr. Alī Jum‘ah (Dr.), Muftī of the republic of Egypt, to Lambeth Palace in the U.K., as they discussed various pertinent issues such as the situation in Egypt since the January 25 Revolution. The Archbishop expressed his appreciation of Dr. Jum‘ah's efforts with the Episcopal Church of Egypt in developing dialogue between the Muslim and Christian communities.