Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Copts’ concerns about the growing power of Islamists brought them to back candidates from the former regime like Ahmad Shafīq, the last prime minister in the Husnī Mubārak tenure, and ‘Amr Mūsá, the former minister of foreign affairs and former secretary-general of the Arab League, according to a report by the U.S. newspaper The Washington Post. [Shaymā’ ‘Amr, al-Misryūn, May 14, p. 4] Read text in Arabic

Presidential candidate Husām Khayr Allāh said if he won the elections, he would set up a ministry for Coptic religious affairs to regulate the building of churches and other pending issues suffered by Copts in Egypt. [‘Amr Jalāl and Mukhlis ‘Abd al-Haī, al-Akhbār, May 10, p. 5] Read text in Arabic

Anti-riot police forces reinforced presence around the Saint Mark Cathedral in the Cairo district of al-‘Abbāssīyah, where renewed clashes erupted between protesters and thugs on Wednesday (May 2) as nine armored vehicles parked outside the cathedral that closed its gates. [‘Imān Ibrāhīm and Muhammad Fathī, al-Jumhūrīyah, May 3, p. 5] Read text in Arabic

Thousands of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate for Egypt’s presidency, Muhammad Mursī, gathered outside the ‘Amr Ibn al-‘Ās Mosque on Monday (April 30) evening in what was considered as a disguised violation of the law that prohibits the use of mosques to hold public rallies. [Nismah Talīmah, al-Ahālī, May 2, p. 1] Read text in Arabic

The Coptic Orthodox Church on Friday morning (April 27) started receiving applications of candidacy for the post of the 118th pope in succession of Pope Shenouda III and will continue receiving papers for 20 days, the remaining time of the 60 days set by the 1957 statute. [Ashraf Sādiq, al-Ahrām, April 28, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic

Presidential candidate ‘Amr Mūsá said Copts are part and parcel of the homeland, adding there is nothing called second-class citizens because there will be no discrimination. [Jamāl Abū al-Dahab, Shādyah Yūsuf and ‘Abbūd Māhir, al-Ahrām, April 26, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic

Coptic activist Mamdūh Ramzī called for representation of Copts in all state positions, giving them the chance to have access to top posts and removing any bans on Copts seeking to run for presidential elections. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Wafd, April 13, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Copts, who are brothers and partners in the nation, enjoy the rights to any state positions depending on efficiency just like any Muslim citizen except those of al-Azhar, said presidential hopeful Muhammad Salīm al-‘Awwā. [Michel ‘Abd Allāh, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, March 18, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic

Some think that Egyptians should not harbor any fears about the Salafīs and that we should not be exaggerating, but what is happening on the ground does not augur well at all.

Salafist leaders and preachers considered as "great conquest and the start to lay the basis of Islamic state" the downfall of Shaykh 'Abd al-Mun'im al-Shahāt, the official spokesman for the Salafī Da'wah (Call) group, accusing the Muslim Brotherhood youths of being behind the campaign to distort the image of al-Nūr (Light) Party.