Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Drs. Hulsman and Dr. Burslem provide a detailed report on Muslim-Christian relations based on a review of Dr. Hugh Goddard’s book, commenting on a number of issues including Western perceptions, mis-interpretations, and examples of recent incidents involving Muslims and Christians.

70 fanatics in Alexandria were arrested on suspicions of

belonging to al-Qā‘idah. The Islamic group claims that they are innocent of the attempt to

assassinate the author Nagīb Mahfūz.

The author reports on a meeting convened by the Egyptian Interior Ministry to discuss ways

to prevent possible terrorist operations and notes parallel developments concerning members of alleged terrorist

groups.

A Moroccan fundamentalist movement, Al-Tawhid Wa Al-Islah [Unity and Reformation], condemned defaming peaceful Islamic organizations. It issued a statement stressing that the terrorist attacks of Casablanca show the importance of following moderation and rejecting violence.

For the third week, the Arab press, especially Asharq Al-Awsat, comments on the phenomenon of terrorism in light of the recent attacks in Riyadh and Casablanca. Authors argue that terrorism is not confined to the Islamic world and refute American claims that Muslim youths support Al-Qa´ida. They believe that renewing religious discourse, true understanding of religion and promoting moderation of Islam can help combating terrorism.

Nova, a major Dutch television program presented on June 13 a number of statements recorded in several Friday sermons in Dutch mosques. The Dutch Daily Trouw reported the TV program, including quotes from the sermons, and followed this up with several other articles. The author gives an overview of these reports.

A Dutch television channel broadcast excerpts from Friday sermons in some Dutch mosques. They claimed they stirred up resentment against Bush and Sharon. A representative from one of the mosques accused the program of misrepresentation.

Almost one month after the September 11 attacks, a British delegation asked to visit the Azhar and its institutes, and conduct interviews with students to know their opinions and beliefs. The president of the division of the Azhari institutes told the delegation that the main significance of the approval of their visit was to show to the outside world the true image of the Azhar and to show that the Azhar curriculum is characterized by moderation and rejection of extremism.

The Dutch parliament has approved closing down Al-Tawheed [Monotheism] Mosque in Amsterdam. This decision was a result of translating and marketing two Islamic book urging punishing homosexuals and applying hadd [Islamic penality] on them to protect the society from corruption.

The author

explains that Islam in Egypt is highly esteemed by both the followers of Muhammad and the

followers of other religions all around the world. This estimation is due to the fact that Islam

in Egypt is characterized by purity and tolerance within different Islamic schools. Al-Azhar

became a representative of this comprehensive spirit of Islam.

A Muslim scholar answers

the allegation that the Qur’an is taken from the Torah