Austria

British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw spent hours this week negotiating with Germany over the issue of Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

‘Amr Khālid has had a remarkable march to fame as a dā‘iya.

In an interview with Sawt al-Umma, ‘Adlī Abādīr responds to accusations of inciting sectarian strife, receiving foreign funds and working against Egypt’s national interests.

The author finds an Muslim preacher in Vienna who challenges his preconceptions of Islamic leaders in the West.

Kurt Krenn, the bishop of the St Poelten Diocese, west of Vienna, cautioned against the “Islamization” of Europe. The bishop, known for his controversial comments, claimed that international terrorism is linked to Islam. He stated that Islam and Christianity cannot form a political entity and he said he opposes Turkey joining the EU.

Pope Shenouda III, the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark consecrated a new Orthodox church for expatriate Copts in Vienna. The consecration came in the last day of the Papal visit to Austria that lasted for four days.


(Similar news was reported by Asharq Al-Awsat, July 12, 2004 (p. 6) )

A Christian-Muslim Dialogue Group from Europe

explored Muslim-Christian relations in Upper Egypt and found a very different picture from what is usually reported in

Western media.

The Christian-Muslim Dialogue Group from Austria visited Egypt with the desire to

discover a new context for Muslim-Christian relations that might inspire their own practice of Christian-Muslim dialogue in

Europe. The group experienced dialogue at very different levels, from religious leaders and prominent intellectuals to the

grassroots in a village in Banī Suwayf [see art. 22 and 23 in this issue]. They learnt how crucial it is for Muslim-

Christian relations to build positive personal relationships. The Austrians were impressed by the deep and genuine

friendships between Muslims and Copts and their shared commitment to social work. They came to the conclusion that the real

gaps in Egyptian society are much more along the borders of social class than of religion. They found the Egyptian experience

allowing different religious identities highly relevant for the discourse regarding the integration of migrants, who came

to Europe in the past four decades.

Results of a visit of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Group from Austria.

The author asks how Muslims can face the Orientalists whose goal is to defame Islam in Western minds, and falsify history, showing Islam in the worst image possible. The answer involves the entity and religion of the Muslim nation, as well as its culture and civilization, past, and future. Some suggestions are offered on how the effects of these criminal activities can be limited.