Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) reiterated condemnation of "attempts to provoke the group's youths" in al-Tahrīr Square during celebrations marking the January 25, 2011 revolution's first anniversary. [Hānī 'Izzat, al-Ahrām, Jan. 31, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Pope Shenouda is starting health tests in Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, the United States, where he will stay for three weeks after examinations for regular medical follow-ups.

The pope has received some Coptic communities in the United States whilst in hospital.

Coptic Pope Shenouda III made a phone call to Muhammad Badī', the murshid (guide) of the Muslim Brotherhood group, during which he thanked him for enquiring after the pope's health when he returned home from a treatment trip in Cleveland, Ohio.

Egypt’s Coptic Pope Shenouda returned back to Cairo on from New York after an 18-day treatment trip in the United States.

Pope Shenouda underwent periodical medical examinations at a clinic in the city of Cleveland in the state of Ohio.

The Pope returned to Egypt one day before the scheduled constitutional referendum. The church had earlier expressed its rejection of the proposed amendments and called for a new constitution.

Pope Shenouda is coming back to Cairo tomorrow, March 17, 2011, after his trip to Ohio in the United States of America for medical purposes that lasted for fifteen days.

During meeting with few of the expatriate copts in the U.S. and Canada, he stressed the church is holding on to a civil state and rejecting the idea of establishing a Christian political party or any other party with religious reference, because, as he mentioned, religion has to be separated from politics.

Meanwhile, Michael Munīr (one of the expatriate Copts leaders), and Najīb Jabrā’īl Mīkhā’īl, Coptic lawyer, announced the establishing of two political parties.

Field Marshal Husīn Tantāwī, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, called Pope Shenouda, currently in Cleveland city in the United States of America, to reassure on his health.

On the same note, Grand Imām (Azhar's Shaykh) Ahmad al-Tayyib, made a phone call on March 13, 2011 to ask about the Pope (al-Wafd, Page 2, March 14, 2011.)

Al-Wafd reports that Coptic Pope Shenouda has returned to Egypt following a visit to the United States for medical treatment.

The text said that the Pope was greeted upon his return to residence by large numbers of bishops, monks, and Coptic youth.

According to a church source, "The pope will not conduct the Epiphany service because of the circumstances of his health.”

[Similar reports appeared in Rose al-Yūsuf, al-Hayāh, al-Ahrām, al-Ahrār, and al-Yawm al-Sābi‘.]

Pope Shenouda has announced that he is soon returning to Cleveland, Ohio to resume medical treatments, as his doctors recommend. He will leave next Thursday after Christmas celebrations.

The Pope justified his outside treatment on the grounds that some of his necessary medical procedures are not available in Egypt.  He insisted that it was his opinion that Egyptian doctors are proficient, adding that the doctors who treat him in the U.S. are actually Egyptians.

(Reviewer Note: This story was also covered in Al-Jumhūrīyah.)

The Coptic Orthodox has begun sending Christmas mass invitations, personally signed by Pope Shenouda III.

Pope Shenouda announced that he will soon return to Ohio for a doctor-recommended health checkup. He is expected to return to preside over the Christmas mass and give his usual sermon.

Church sources revealed to al-Wafd that the Pope's absence from his usual sermon in Alexandria is either because of the rising protest against him or because he was attending opening ceremonies for the National Democratic Party.

The Egyptian press has reported on Pope Shenouda’s medical trip to the U.S and brought to the surface again speculation about who will succeed the current patriarch.