Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The author denounces the prevalence of demonstrations as means of self-expression in Egypt. He bemoans the demonstrations that called for the return of the defrocked Bishop Taklā, accusing "vicious hidden hands" of tampering with Egypt’s security.

A secret front formed by bishops in Upper Egypt is discussing the idea of choosing a bishop to compete for the papal chair in case of Pope Shenouda’s death.

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.

The author reports on Pope Shenouda’s decision to form a committee to examine whether the punitive period that the bishop of Dishnā has been carrying out at monastery is long enough or whether it should be extended.

Pope Shenouda asserted that there is no division within the church and denied being a dictator, proclaiming that he disseminated the people’s right to choose their priest, bishop, and archbishop when he assumed the office of pope.

The author wonders about the real reasons for canceling

the church trial of the bishop of Naj‘ Ḥammādī, Bishop Kyrillos, criticizing the Secretary-

general of the Holy Synod Bishop Bīshūy for holding such trials upon personal discords alone.

In the past some Copts have

been complaining that the Egyptian press has not given

(enough) attention to Christian religious feasts. This is why we have

listed the articles related to

Easter.

Saint Pākhūm’s church in Qina

is under threat.

Bin Laden and his terrorist followers, who escaped from Egypt, imagined that Egypt could be a stage for their malicious operations. Their first target was to strike the symbols of the state, the cultured and the intellectuals, and to create a moral dread within Egyptians. Their second target was to strike the Egyptian police and their third objective was to attack the Christians, to distort the image of Egypt in the international mass media, showing the Copts as hostages in the hands of radical religious groups, claiming that the state was unable to protect them.

This report explains the escalations following the alleged

conversion of a priest’s wife to Islam. Much background is given to the cultural context that

explain why such an issue is so sensitive in Egypt. The report also shows that several of the

organizers of the demonstration in Cairo have done so to attract media attention as a means to

put pressure on Egyptian authorities. The report also shows most media have taken a partisan

approach in reporting this issue and thus have added to the escalations. AWR added a postscript

to this reported dated May 10, 2005.