Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The shaykh of the Azhar has asked to receive an official invitation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in an inter-faith dialogue summit in Washington.

Rumors spread about a critical health condition of Pope Shenouda III after his sudden visit to Cleveland lately. Rumors spread about the pope having left his last will to a trusted bishop. Meanwhile Coptic analysts refuted the rumors and expect a the pope to return soon.

The author, Ishaq Ibrāhim, interviewed the head of Egyptians Against Religious Discrimination [EARD] Mūnir Mejahid about the group’s members, goals and methods.

Magdy Malak reflects on the scope and power of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and bemoans the lack of any real opposition parties that are able to compete with the ruling National Democratic Party.

The article is a brief interview with Pope Shenouda III that took place at Cairo airport when he was on his way to Washington for medical treatment and to look after the Coptic parish in the U.S.

The General Citizenship Conference was held on November 25, 2007 and was sponsored by the National Council for Human Rights. The Egyptian press covered the incident from different viewpoints.

A U.S. center for teaching English at the Azhar University is believed by many Azhar scholars and students to be interfering in Muslims’ affairs.

The article reviews three separate articles published by al-Usbū‘ on recent statements of the prominent Coptic businessman Najīb Sawirus, in which he was reported as criticizing the manifesto of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political party as well as the increasing religious trend in society.

Upon receiving the Democracy Award, 2007, Hishām Qāsim was subject to severe attacks in the Egyptian press. Over two days Qāsim reported the details of his visit to the U.S., his meeting with George Bush and his comments on the issue.

Huwaydī expresses his fears over a meeting that is expected to take place between Pope Shenouda, Pope Benedict XVI, and 38 prominent Muslim scholars and preachers to discuss Muslim Christian relations in Egypt.