Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

An International Dialogue Conference is to be held in Madrid, July 16 – 18.

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 General Secretariat of the Muslim World League will hold an interfaith dialogue that will focus on defining the concept of dialogue in the Qur’ān and the Sunnah. The conference is an attempt to make interfaith dialogue an alternative to the calls for a clashing of civilizations.

Subḥī Shabānah reports that the Saudi authorities have revealed that security managed to arrest non-Muslims who applied for pilgrimage visas from neighboring countries with aim of sneaking into Mecca and Medina to carry out criminal acts such as stealing and pick pocketing, making use of the crowd in pilgrimage areas.

The article discusses a recent meeting between King ‘Abd Allāh of Saudi Arabia, and Pope Benedict XVI, the first meeting of its kind, and the implications that this meeting has.

The author reports on Muslims’ anger about the recent decision of the right wing Danish Folkeparti [People’s Party] about the use of a drawing of the Prophet Muhammad in their election campaign under claims that the party respects the rights to freedom of speech.

In his interview with Sanā’ al-Sa‘īd, Pope Shenouda does not expect a quick solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without first achieving Arabic harmony. He also discussed issues related to U.S. aid, foreign interference, the Iranian case, illegal emigration, and other Egypt-related issues.

Freedoms do not exist in a state that claims to be religious. Its nature is based on unanimity and authoritarianism which does not permit political or intellectual freedoms.

John H. Watson highlights an exhibition at the British Library that showcases ancient holy books from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources.

The prominent Egyptian intellectual Tarek Heggy wrote about a number of topics related to the developments in the Egyptian and Arab arenas, sending a number of press messages to figureheads in the Arab world.