Shaykh

Sectarian unrest took place between Muslims and Copts in the area of Mintāī, Shubrā al-Khayman district, on Monday (November 5) when local residents objected the construction of a service building over a plot of land owned by Bishop Marqus, seized the land which they claimed unlicensed and put a sign reading “‘Ibād al-Rahman Mosque” there. [Muntasir Sa’d, ‘Abd al-Wahāb Sha’bān, Salāh al-Wakīl and Mājdah Sālih, al-Wafd, Nov. 7, p. 1] Read text in Arabic

The ‘Id al-Adhá prayers in Alexandria switched from spiritual to political as Salafī Da’wah (Call) and Muslim Brotherhood leaders delivered fiery sermons in squares all over the Mediterranean city. [Rāmī Yāsīn, al-Ahrām, Oct. 27, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

The Salafī Front, in a statement on Sunday (October 28), refused to send a Coptic girl, who disappeared since late last month and has reportedly converted to Islam and married a Muslim young man, back to her family in Mersa Matrouh. [Mustafá Rahūmah, Sa’īd Hijāzī and Muhammad Bakhāt, al-Watan, Oct. 29, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic

Islamic preacher Yūsuf al-Badrī sparked extreme discontent in literary and cultural circles after his remarks in a TV show a couple of days ago in which he called for destroying “all statues and idols in Egypt as a religious duty over fears people might return to paganism”. [Muná Yāsīn, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Oct. 25, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic

U.S. ambassador in Cairo Anne Patterson met on Wednesday (October 10) with Coptic activists who spoke to her about the status of religious minorities in Egypt under President Muhammad Mursī, a few days after her meeting with Egyptian Shiite leaders who told her they applied for the Dutch government for seeking asylum to the Netherlands to “escape persecution”. [Magi Kamāl, al-Sabāh, Oct. 12, p. 3] Read text in Arabic

Muhammad Yūsuf ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abd Allāh, an Egyptian Salafist who obtained the alias Shaykh Abū Ahmad as soon as he was approved as member of ‘Usāmah Bin Lādin’s al-Qā’idah network, said the jihādists do not recognize the state or ruler simply because he does not pursue the path of God. [‘Abd al-Wahāb Sha’bān, al-Wafd, Oct. 11, p. 7] Read original text in Arabic

Yet another episode of attempts to bring Egypt in an awkwardly embarrassing situation is fostered by expatriate Copts to press the current regime that is only less than 100 days in power coupled with resounding tones about Copts’ rights to seek asylum to the Netherlands. [‘Abd al-Wahāb Sha’bān, al-Wafd, Oct. 3, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

An Egyptian league comprising Sufi Orders and Copts accused the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafī movements of trying to spread sedition in Egypt and divide the nation through a Zionist scheme. [Sa’īd ‘Alī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Sept. 29, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic

The trial of a Salafī preacher and others on charges of disdaining Christianity started on Sunday (September 30) as the environs of the court saw clashes between Islamists supporting the defendants and Copts before the session was adjourned to October 14. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Hayāt, Oct. 1, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic