Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a draft of a law to create the position of a special envoy to support the rights of religious minorities in the Middle East and Asia with Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as top priority. The draft was approved by a majority of 402 to 20.

[Reviewer's note: a similar story was covered in al-Masry al-Yawm, August 2, 2011, p.3].

Bashīr 'Īsá writes that the attack on the Church of the Two Saints, Saint Mark and Pope Peter in Alexandria is not different than the November attack at the Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad.

The author is surprised at what she sees as the double standard of Egyptians in reacting to religious incidents. 'Īsá says that Egyptians were very upset when a veiled women was killed in Germany by a mentally ill person, but he claims that they did not move when Christians were recently killed in Alexandria and elsewhere.

He adds that it is not appropriate to change the Egyptian constitution in order to pretend to fight terrorism or fitnah.

 Fālih 'Abd al-Jabār suggest that christians status in Egypt is much more better comparing with Christians in Iraq where there is religious intolerance.

He added that the violence in Iraq transferred from attacking churches to killing individual Christians because they are an easy target, according to terrorism experts.

Headline: Finding a Special Region to Gather Marginalized Christians in Iraq is the Perfect Solution to End our Suffering, Says a Coptic Leader
Source: Al-Sharq al-Awsat
Page: 10
Author: Not mentioned
Keywords: Iraq

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Headline: Michael [a Christian], Son of Shaykh James [a Muslim]: An Example of Christian-Muslim Existence in Southern Sudan
Source: Al-Hayāh
Page: 4
Author: AFP
Keywords: South Sudan, referendum, secession

While some of the weekly Egyptian publications continue to offer extensive opinion pieces about the Alexandria church attack, instances of such opinions decreased noticeably in the daily papers...

Cardinal Antonius Najīb, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, talks in this interview with al-Wafd about various current issues facing Egypt.

Regarding the recent debate on divorce and remarriage Najīb said, “Marriage is sacrament built on unity between one man and one woman who will not separate, as long as marriage is built on the right basis."

Dealing with the recent and upcoming elections in Egypt, the Cardinal claims that the majority Muslim population would never vote for a minority Coptic candidate. "Logically, they will vote for the majority. Appointing a fixed parliamentary quota could be a solution,” he said.

Cardinal Najīb is also looking forward to the implementation of a unified law for building places of worship. Further, he believes that politicizing religion and relying on religious rule is unacceptable, whether in Egypt or internationally.

He related the recent Egyptian sectarian violence to a lack of tolerance, dialogue, and social participation. Commenting on recent threats from extremists to Egyptian Copts, “Al-Qā‘idah lacked a reason for this inhuman massacre [referring to the October, 2010 attack on Sayyidat al-Najāh church in Baghdad],”  thanking the Interior Minister and the Azhar for their recent statements deploring the threats.

Finally, Cardinal Najīb also called on global institutions to interfere in solving the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.

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

A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said that an eldery Iraqi Christian man and his wife were killed in East Baghdad last Saturday.

There has been a rise in deadly attacks against Christians in Iraq throughout the past few weeks, leading many of them to flea to other countries. On October 31, a number of armed men attacked the Sayyidat al-Najāh Church, killing 44 worshippers, 2 priests, and 7 security guards. Also, 6 Christians have been killed and 33 injured in a chain of attacks this month.

Al-Qā‘idah announced its responsibility for the events, claiming that Christians are a legitimate target.

Since 2004, around 52 churches have been bombed, 900 Christians killed, and hundreds of others kidnapped in Iraq.

Despite the cold weather, a large number of people gathered to participate in a prayer by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

The Vatican Pope prayed for victims of violence of all religions. He particulalry emphasized those in Iraq, Egypt, and the Sinai.