Egypt

Radio Monte Carlo broadcasted an episode of its program Hot Circuit to discuss the relationship between the American draft law on religious persecution and the emigrated Copts.

A preacher forbids the celebration of Egypt’s most popular feast.

Pope Shenouda opened in Austria an exhibit on Coptic art.

The old Islamic houses in Cairo dating from the 17th and 18th century are restored.

Watani, a paper owned by Copts which has always advocated Coptic issues, denounces the proposed American Freedom of Religious Persecution Act.
" The use of the terms ’persecution’ and ’racial discrimination’ are very far from the reality of Copts" the paper writes which doesn’t mean there are injustices. " We monitor all this like we monitor all that that poisoned atmosphere produces, which is later used by the extremists to violate the properties and lives of Copts."

Rose el-Yousef describes the conflict between a Coptic Orthodox bishop and the people of a village in his diocese who wanted him to consecrate the son of the village priest as priest which the bishop refused. The Pope responded by taking this village and two other villages away from his diocese.

Some Muslims do not like to see the link between Sham en-Nessim and Easter, the Christian feast of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is denied in Islam.

Because of the attack of Selim Naguib, the RNSAW included the full text of the Report of the Council of Churches which concludes "It does not appear that the national government condones any acts of persecution of the Christian minority in Egypt." But " This is not to say that there is no persecution or discrimination in Egypt. No nation on earth can lay claim to that distinction."

Author Selim Naguib, president of the Canadian Coptic Association, attacks the report of the New York Council of Churches. The article caused this issue of Al-Hayat to be banned in Egypt.

Pope Shenouda speaks again out against Western interference in Egypt. Those who attempt in their ignorance to prevent the aid to Egypt should know that this does not affect only the Muslims but also the Christian Egyptians. Their behavior shows a lack of understanding and wisdom and political vision.