Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Shaykh Sharīf al-Hawwārī, a notable Salafist in the western Alexandria town of al-‘Āmrīyah, pledged to bring back the five Coptic families expelled over a purported love affair between a Christian man and a divorced Muslim woman to their homes. [Rāmī Yāsīn and Shādyah Yūsuf, al-Ahrām, Feb. 18, p. 3] 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

The Good Shepherd channel, patronized by Bishop Maximus, who broke away from the Coptic Orthodox Church and founded a new Orthodox Christian community, is back again after a hiatus of more than one year.

The channel is now transmitted on the NileSat after it was showing only on the European satellite HotBird broadcast satellite. [Author Not Mentioned, Rose al-Yūsuf magazine, Feb. 4, p. 53] Read text in Arabic

Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III expressed heartfelt condolences for Egyptians over the deplorable incidents that followed the Egyptian league football game between Cairo's al-Ahlī and Port Said's al-Misrī in the coastal city. [Husnī Mīlād, al-Akhbār, February 3, p. 7] Read original text in Arabic

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) reiterated condemnation of "attempts to provoke the group's youths" in al-Tahrīr Square during celebrations marking the January 25, 2011 revolution's first anniversary. [Hānī 'Izzat, al-Ahrām, Jan. 31, p. 5] 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

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

Islam criminalizes attacks on churches and non-Muslim houses of worship as Islamists, namely the Muslim Brotherhood and a number of Salafī parties, volunteered to protect churches during the New Year celebrations. [Dīyā' Abū al-Safā, Akhbār al-Yawm, p. 7, Jan. 1] Read original text in Arabic

Copts are making about 5% of an Egyptian population of 81 million, which is growing by 4500 souls daily, said Abū Bakr al-Jindī, the president of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). [Majdī Salāmah, Al-Wafd, Dec. 29, p. 12] Read original text in Arabic