Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

About 50 Coptic figures will meet Tuesday (March 6) to discuss merger into one entity and agree on names of representatives in the constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution for Egypt, Coptic sources told al-Misrī al-Yawm newspaper. [‘Imād Khalīl, al-Misrī al-Yawm, March 6, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic

Al-Wafd published the story on Runderkamp's film on its website on December 5. This was strange since it was not in their printed publication. The Wafd text was mailed by imām Fādil Sulaymān to Cornelis Hulsman, Jayson Casper with the question "Dear brothers, what do you think about this Dutch report??"

Lex Runderkamp’s video on the incident of the village of al-Mārīnāb in Idfū city, Aswan governorate was used by al-Mukhalis TV website on December 7, 2011 [Read al-Mukhalis TV website comment on the video], a Salafī outlet, and before this  by articles in al-Distūr, December 4, 2011 and al-Misriyūn, page 3, December 5, 2011, as so-called proof that Christians set fire in their own church under construction. Al-Wafd followed with similar news on December 5, 2011. I translated here the Arabic text of the video on YouTube with the title "Dutch TV gripping conspiracy of al-Marīnāb" for Arab-West Report.

Al-Mukhalis TV is supervised by a Salafī Shaykh Muhammad al-Zugbhī who, in turn, has links to the Salafī al-Nūr 'light' party. He earlier claimed that Copts kept Muslim women detained in Coptic monasteries which is a reference to the story Wafā' Costantine and other women who supposedly converted to Islam but were prevented by the church to complete the conversion procedures. Al-Zughbī is known for being opposed to Pope Shenouda III and has led demonstrations close to the Coptic Orthodox cathedral to “liberate” these women, according to him “sisters in Islam.” Of course this is very intimidating for Copts.

Lex Runderkamp, the journalist responsible for the “news report” of NOS-TV on the tensions surrounding a church under construction in Mārīnāb, responded to the commentary about his film in Arab-West Report in a text I promptly translated for Arab-West Report and gave to Lamīs Yahyá, author of our first report on Mārīnāb, for a response:

Following the NOS reporting and responses I asked Lamis Yehya, who had joined me in the visit to Mārīnāb to come to our office in Cairo.

Veteran journalist Lex Runderkamp visited Egypt to report about what happened on September 30th in Mārīnāb. He reported for Dutch TV, in prime time, on November 26th [Title: “Conflict between Copts and Muslims is complicated”].

Commissioned by Prime Minister, Dr. cIsām Sharaf, the National Justice Committee has submitted its report on the events of Mārīnāb village, Aswan, in which some of the villagers burned a building that Christians wanted to convert to a church illegally. The Committee visited the village and met with some villagers as well as officials. People there affirmed the peaceful climate and Muslim-Christian relationships that characterize the village, considering the event as a "small fire in the guesthouse."

A new development confirms the veracity of the church's position with regards to the incident of Mārīnāb village, Aswan, in which the church and shops of Copts were burnt. Rose al-Yūsuf  got information from sources inside the papal residence that the church has sent a copy of the license that the Diocese of Aswan had obtained to build a new church with domes.

For the first time since Marīnāb incidents occurred, Aswan Governor Major General Mustafá al-Sayīd met Anba Hidra, Metropolitan of Aswan, and the delegation of the Coptic Orthodox Church October 26. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to observe wisdom and enhance public interests in the critical phase the country is going through.

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Aswan Statement [October 15, 2011]
A number of visual and written media recently covered the issue of Saint George's Church in Marīnāb of Idfū city in Aswan governorate inaccurately and gave wrong information, which resulted in the confusion in the opinions and emotions of the public.

The truth is clear and we want to announce it to everyone:
Marīnāb village has a church called Saint George in which people have prayed in for more than 40 years. The village is home to more than 200 Christians. Priests had done masses in it and I, myself [Bishop Hidrā of Aswan], have prayed there more than once without any disturbance from Muslims.

In September, 2011, the Church was demolished, and three Christian houses were burned which disturbed this good relations. It was painful not only in Aswan, but all over Egypt. 

[Reviewer's Note: al-Ahrām had published this statement on page 3 of October 17, 2011 issue as a paid ad and signed by Bishop Hidrā of Aswan.]

A previous statement was issued by Bishop Hidrā on the diocese's Web site on October 12, 2011.