Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

A French law banning prayers in the streets, which was approved by the government the day before yesterday (September 16), caused widespread controversy between French Muslims, when the decision forced them to rent military barracks to perform their Friday prayers due to size constraints in mosques.

A number of Coptic men have signed an announcement calling to cancel any Christmas celebrations in Egypt.

Al-Jumhūriyah reports about the interview of Yediot Ahronoth with Farūq Husnī, Egyptian Minister of Culture.

Dr. Mamdūh Halīm writes about the history of the Sectarian Council in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The article describes the events of the first Coptic Studies Symposium that was recently held at the University of Toronto.

France sentences seven convicts to seven years in prison for recruiting jihādīs.

Cornelis Hulsman commemorates the life of Metropolitan Marcos, an unconventional Dutch member of the Coptic Orthodox Church who served as a bishop for 34 years.

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 conducted an interview with Father Salīb Mattá Sawirus on the topic of his newly established human rights center.

Islamophobia vs. Westophobia; two postmodern terms. The article presents Muslims’ points of view toward the issue. Dialogue and moderation seem to be the key issues for eliminating the two terms used by fundamentalists on both sides, as most of the people in the following text explained.