al-‘Umrāniyyah

 Muhammad al-Ghītī writes that following the sectarian accident in al-'Umrānīyyah, accusatory statements were circulated over the internet.

Al-Ghītī criticized Pope Shenouda's statement, made during his weekly sermon after the incident, saying that Copts blood won't be wasted which distressed its audience and could possibly ignite anger in people.

In the same manner, al-Ghītī criticized 'Abd al-Muhsin Salāmah's article in al-Ahram that criticized the Pope and Copts.

Furthermore, he denies that Copts are being caressed by the government.

Copts expressed their resentment for appointing Jamāl 'As'ad in the parliament, claiming that he will use his political immunity to attack Copts and church.

Kamāl Zāghir Mūsa, coordinator of "Secular Copts" stream, relate the reason of increasing the appointed Copts to 7, might be, to absorb Copts anger over al-Umrānīyyah incident.

He added that the decrease in the number of Copts’ representatives after July revolution goes back to the change in the political climate and sectarian penetration in Egyptian community; and the solution is not in appointing Copts in the parliament but to start changing the overall political climate.

Samīr al-Shahāt writes that whoever think that Egypt is divided into two elements of nation: one muslim and other christian, is wrong.

He adds that regardless of the violent incidents occurred in al-‘Umrāniyyah, Naj‘ Hammādī, and al-Kushh Egypt is a safe nation.

Al-Shahāt believes that an Egyptian disregarding his religion is a peaceful person who don't incline to violence, or killing. 

 Pope Shenouda postponed returning from Monastery of Saint Bīshūy (Dayr Anbā Bīshūy) in Wādī al-Natrūn that was scheduled in Sunday December 12, 2010.

Pope didn't state the time of his arrival but its expected that it will be before his well-known weekly sermon in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in al-‘Abbāsiyyah.

Church sources said that the Pope's health is improving; denying his official seclusion, and pointing out his anger from renewing the imprisonment of al-‘Umrāniyyah incident's detainees. 

About appointing seven copts in the parliament, church sources said that appointing Jamāl 'As'ad caused resentment because of his well know attack on church. Furthermore, Copt lawyer Mājid Hanā called the choice of appointees is a 'disappointment'.

(Reviewer's Note: News Story was also covered in al-Wafd and al-Usbū')

Al-Dustūr says that the ‘Umrāniyyah Appeals Committee has turned down a challenge by the Giza Bishopric to reverse the decision to stop construction at the disputed church site.

The report says the previous meeting of the ‘Umrāniyyah Appeals Committee had postponed its decision so that the district could submit a certificate attesting that the church services building complied with urban planning rules. 

One of the lawyers representing the Bishopric of Giza said that he and the other lawyers had informed the committee that they were present to attend the session and that he promised to inform them when it began. However, he says that they found out a short time later that the decision was made without them being given the opportunity to put forward their case.

He added that the Bishopric would challenge the committee’s decision at the State Council “within days.”

Work on the building stopped in November after it was found to be in violation of the approved blueprints.

The Coptic Orthodox Church denied what was published in a private paper about Pope Shenouda retreating from public life in Monastery of Saint Bīshūy in Wādī al-Natrūn, objecting the non-release of Copts arrested for al-‘Umrāniyyah incident.

Bishop Yu’annis, General Bishop and Secretary of Pope, said that Pope went there as his usual weekly visit.

At his weekly meeting in the ‘Abbāsiyyah Cathedral, Pope Shenouda III announced that the church will do everything within its power to defend the rights of those who were killed, injured and detained during the ‘Umrāniyyah riots in November 24, 2010.

Activist Najīb Jabrā’īl called upon Coptic churches worldwide to put new year’s and Christmas celebrations on hold until all the ‘Umrāniyyah riots detainees are released.

Jayson Casper analyzes the Coptic Orthodox Church's response to the recent  ‘Umrāniyyah church riots, a dispute with security forces over the legality of a church construction project that left two dead and dozens arrested.

Pope Shenouda met with President Mubārak last Wednesday. But Archpriest Sergius Sergius, the Patriarachy Deputy, claims that no one from the church knows what happened during meeting, as the Pope went alone.

Meanwhile, Najīb Jabrā’īl Mīkhā’īl, a Coptic lawyer and activist, says that nine points were discussed in the meeting, among them: Coptic disappointment at the November parliamentary elections, the absencee of Coptic females in the Egyptian parliament, the 42 Coptic rioters in the ‘Umrāniyyah incidents who have not yet been released, and the indecision in the Naj‘ Hammādī incident that led to the death of 6 Copts on New Year's eve.

Archpriest Sergius reported that the Pope emerged from the meeting in good spirits.

This article highlights an interview between Radio Vatican and Father Rafīq Greish, a spokesman for the Coptic Catholic Church, who speaks about the state of Egyptian Christians during the past months.

Greish discusses the ‘Umrāniyyah riots against the construction stoppage of an unlicensed church in Giza in November, as well as the effects of the al-Qā‘idah attack on a Syriac Catholic Church in October in Baghdad.

He believes that the church was targeted specifically because of the Middle East Synod held at the Vatican last month.

Regarding Egypt, Greish says that the government uses a double standard when dealing with the construction of places of worship.