Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Ibrāhīm Si'dah says that terrorists justify their violence by saying that they are protecting Islam. He wonders how this is when there is civil war in Iraq where Sunnah and Shī‘ah Muslims are fighting with each other. His article comes in light of the October 31 attacks on the Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad, Iraq.

Hundreds of Christian Iraqis commemorated  the fourtieth anniversary of Sayyidat al-Najāh (Lady of Salvation) massacre in Baghdad on December 10, 2010. A lot of public and political figures attended the anniversary funeral.

A Christian sect in al-Basrah (editor: name not given) canceled Christmas celebrations and plans to emigrate from the country not only because of the attack but also because of unemployment.

Meanwhile, In Kurdistan, Friday sermons at mosques encouraged people to donate money for displaced Christians from Iraq.

Kāwah Mahmūd, spokesperson of the Kurdistan regional government, called on Christians to celebrate their Christmas in Kurdistan, stating that he hopes Christians will celebrate Christmas in their own country but in any case Kurdistan is pleased to have them and intends to provide for all their necessities and security.

Headline: September 11 is an American conspiracy, says Shaykh ‘Abd al-Majīd al-Zindānī
Source: Al-Ahrām al-‘Arabī
Page: 24-25
Author: Ilhāmī al-Malījī
Keywords: Shaykh

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Headline: In 2011...Copts expecting increase in sectarian fitnah and clashes between church and country; the Pope will push to pass a unified personal status law
Source: Sawt al-Ummah
Page: 6
Author: ‘Antar ‘Abd al-Latīf
Keywords: fitnah

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Headline: More Attacks on Iraqi Christians
Source: Al-Hayāh
Page: 2
Author: ‘Abd al-Wāhid Ti'mah
Keywords: Iraq, attacks

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Headline: Complains Aimed at Iraqi Government after Renewal of Attacks against Christians in Baghdad
Source: Al-Sharq al-Awsat
Page: 10
Author: Not mentioned
Keywords: Iraq, Baghdad, attacks

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Headline: Tutoring in Facing Sectarianism
Source: Rose al-Yūsuf
Page: 27-29
Author: Hānī Labīb
Keywords: sectarian tension, Egypt, Copts, Muslims

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Headline: Brotherhood Guide Calls for Joint Arab Agreement to Prevent Sudan's Division
Source: Al-Ahrār
Page: 1
Author: Muhīy al-Dīn Sa‘īd
Keywords: Muslim Brotherhood Guidance Office, Sudan, secession

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Headline: Sudanese President Al-Bashīr Renews his Commitment to Referendum and Applying Islamic Sharī‘ah
Source: Al-Shurūq al-Jadīd
Page: 2
Author: Reprinted from various news agencies
Keywords: Sharī‘ah

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Headline: Survivors of Sayyidat al-Najāh Massacre Spend Christmas in France
Source: Al-Shurūq al-Jadīd
Page: 10
Author: Not mentioned
Keywords: Sayyidat al-Najāh attack, Iraq

Jayson Casper considers the attack in Alexandria and the resulting sectarian demonstrations which arose in its wake. He explores some of the contextual issues and finds hope in an interfaith effort promoted by a dialogue group in the city. Even so, efforts to find meaning in the tragedy must go further…

AWR Chief Editor Cornelis Hulsman says that the government, Muslims, and Christians need to work together to address the growing sectarian tension in Egypt in order to prevent future attacks, such as the the New Year's Day bombing of a Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, which left 21 dead and dozens wounded...

A woman dressed in black who lost her husband in the recent Sayyidat al-Najāh church massacre came a day before Christmas celebrations to mourn her husband at the same spot where her husband died.

In the past few weeks, Baghdad has witnessed armed operations targeting Christians. Many have died and hundreds have abandoned their homes in search for a secure shelter.

Al-Qā‘idah in Iraq has declared responsibility for the incidents. The group's website threatens more attacks, pushing for the release of allegedly detained "Christians converts to Islam."

A council representing Christan denominations in Iraq have asked various groups to restrict Christmas celebrations to praying inside the church.  Iraqi security authorities are also taking extra precautions.

The United Nations Refugee Agency says that a stampede of Christians have left Baghdad following the Sayyidat al-Najāh Church massacre carried out by al-Qā‘idah that left 44 civilians, 2 priests, and 7 security guards dead, as well as 60 people injured.

UNHCR Spokesperson Melissa Fleming says that Iraqi Christians are fleeing to other parts Iraq, as well as to neighboring countries. Fleming called upon these countries to accept the refugees.

This report focuses on the situation of Christians in the major cities of Iraq, who are fleeing to the relative safety of Kurdistan, according to the report.

It cites a Reuters report as saying that a latest incident, in which an elderly man and his wife were murdered, was part of a spate of killings of Christians in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces in recent weeks.

The perpetrators of these atrocities have promised to commit more murders of Christians, to the point where one group has described Christians as "legitimate targets for killing."

In addition, Christians finding refuge in Kurdistan are finding life difficult because of the high cost of living, the report says.

The author comments on the U.S. Commission on International Freedom’s report on religious freedom in Iraq, and the migration of Christians from the region.