Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Acting patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church Bishop Pachomius pledged the church will not interfere in Christians’ votes to elect a president of the republic, adding Copts demand that the clear mention of civil state be included in the constitution. [Khayr Rāghib, Yāsir Shimīs, Hamdī Qāsim, Ahmad ‘Abd al-Salām, Rajab Ramadān and Teresa Kamāl, al-Misrī al-Yawm, April 27, p. 6] 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

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

 The Board of State Commissioners on Monday withdrew a cultural award from the Egyptian researcher Dr. Sayyid al-Qimnī after he was convicted of having contempt for religion, judicial sources said.
In June 2009, al-Qimnī was awarded by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture for his achievements in social sciences.

Sahar Al-Ja'ārah writes about a Fatwá made by Shaykh Mahmūd ‘Āmir, President of Ansār al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah group at Damanhūr, which calls for the slaying of Muhammad al-Barād‘ī, former president of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for civil disobedience and incitement to disobey President Husnī Mubārak.

Al-Ja'ārah sees ‘Āmir's Fatwá as "abnormal," and a ploy that gets him closer to the ruling regime.

She added that ‘Āmir's Fatwás always justify political succession. Moreover, he addresses Egypt as if it were an ancient Islamic caliphate ruled by Sharī‘ah law.

Al-Ja'ārah questions the silence of the country for this moral terrorism.

The author highlights incidents in Egypt in the last month that deal with religions and relations between Muslims and Christians, he believes that these incidents are representative of Egyptian attitude in general toward religions. He concludes by wondering if Egypt is going backwards.

The author discusses salafism and refers to its origin and definition throughout the Islamic history.

Watani interviewed a Christian woman who received an MA in education from Ayn Shams university and is now a teaching fellow in the Arabic department at the university.

Dr. ‘Abd al-Mu‘tī Bayyūmī writes about the danger of rigidity in religion in modern times.

Suggested changes to the child law have provoked far-reaching debates. The issues of female circumcision, a child's paternity and the law's adherence to the principles of Sharī‘ah are three of the key topics that have come under analysis.