Developments in Muslim-Christian relations in the Arab world

Ahram Online had published on March 9, 2013 an article entitled“Kom Ombo's missing Muslim woman returns home”. Below is the full text of the article:

Al-Misrīyūn translated Agence France-Presse’s article entitled“Protesters burn Christian homes in Pakistan“about Christian houses burned by Muslim protesters in Pakistan.

John Faraj, a Christian ironing-man, puts Quranic verses beside Virgin Mary’s picture on the front of his shop and a sticker on top of them that says: “Muslim and Christian..One hand”. That is how John expressed the love between Muslims and Christians in Egypt. These feelings will be understood only by residents of Shubrā district of Cairo where Christians and Muslims are gathered in one house and one street (Samāh Hasan, al-Watan, Mar. 10, p. 20). Read original text in Arabic.

Yesterday, February 2, in Alexandria, the general union for Copts for the nation movement signed a declaration urging all political forces, authorities, and opposition, as well as all youth movements, to support the latest Azhar Document denouncing violence, calling for peaceful protests, and engaging the country's rulers in dialogue (Rajab Ramadān, al-Misrī Al-Yawm, Feb. 3, p. 9).  Read original text in Arabic.

An electronics’ technicians reported his daughter missing in Shubrā al-Khaymah without accusing anyone of her kidnap.

Ishāq Karmī Bisālī, father of the “kidnapped”, said that he had good relations with his Muslim neighbors. He added that his daughter’s wedding was going to be next June (2013). He relates,  before her disappearance, she had a tiff with her fiancé. Her friends at school said that she did not come to school the day of her disappearance (Marnā Amīr, al-Sabāh, Mar. 8, p. 7). Read original text in Arabic.

An article in the English The Telegraph on Jan. 13 said that the number of Coptic Churches in the United States has grown from four churches to 200 in 40 years. There are so many Coptic refugees from Egypt fleeing, if they can, to the United States that some Coptic Churches have had to be extended (Ingī Majdī, al-Yawm Al-Sābi’, Jan. 15, p. 1). Read original text in Arabic.

Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II conducted the first Christmas holy mass since his ordination in November 2012 following the death of former Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III in March 2011. Around five thousand Muslims and Christians beside several official and public figures attended the holy mass and came to extend their congratulations to Christians on their official holiday (’Abd’Imād Khalīl, Wā’il Muhammad, Sayyīd Nāfiꞌ and Ashraf Jād, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 7, p. 1). Read original text in Arabic.

Political forces and Coptic movements have intensified their actions to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held on April 22. The movement Kifāyah (Enough) began a campaign to gather two million signatures to stop the elections. In the meantime, the National Salvation Front (NSF) is preparing the inauguration of the “People’s Parliament” to challenge the Muslim Brotherhood (Imām Ahmad, Muhammad ‘Imārah, Mustafá Rahūmah, and Ahmad Ghunaym, al-Watan, March 4, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic. 

Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyīb, Azhar’s Grand Shaykh, minimized the sectarian tensions in Egypt between Muslims and Christians, describing it as “individual behaviors that came as a result of emotional, social or political stances and these individuals cover them under religion” (Fathī Majdī, al-Misrīyūn, Mar. 7, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic.

The newspaper al-Misrīyūn received threats that journalists will be prosecuted and physically liquidated and the newspaper headquarters burned down. The source of the threats remains unknown. However, the threats come after the newspaper revealed in their Wednesday, February 27 edition, the names of individuals involved in the training of “Black Bloc”, the names of Church leaders and individuals connected to the Church’s teams of scouts, and the training locations in a number of different monasteries (Mustafá al-Bahār and Husayn ‘Uthmān, al-Misrīyūn, March 1, p. 1). Read original text in Arabic.