Political and social context in the Arab world

It was beautiful to attend the Consecration ceremony of Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II. First Bishop Tawadros walked, dressed in black, from the papal residence to the Cathedral, between bishops who were all dressed in liturgical dress.  Gradually he received the dress, staff and papal crown that belong to the function of the Coptic Orthodox pope. Impressive was the moment that the old Syrian Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Zaki I in a wheelchair came and repeatedly called Axios, a Greek word meaning “he is worthy.”

Picture from the Consecration (taken by Drs. Cornelis Hulsman):

President Mursī's decree on Thursday November 22 that puts his decisions above legal challenge until a new parliament is elected has resulted in demonstrations, both in opposition and in favor of the president.

As an organization that promotes effective dialogue between all factions and denominations of the Egyptian society with the ultimate goal of creating a basis for understanding, respect, and cooperation, Arab West Report has found in the person of Dr. George Missīhā a valuable asset. Dr. Missīhā, has shown to be committed to fight for the rights of the Egyptians as a whole, in an effort not to undermine nor support any one ethnicity or religion over the other. As a  Christian, a former Member of the 2012 Parliament, and a member in the Constitutional Assembly, he has shown dedication to the values of AWR.

Dr. Sa’d al-Katātnī, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, instructed Coptic members of the FJP to open dialogue with leaders of churches that quit the constituent assembly drafting a new constitution for Egypt and to set a date for a meeting with them in two days in an attempt to get them back to the panel. [Muhammad Tal’at Dāwūd, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Nov. 21, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic

With the assassination of Ahmed Jaabari Israel has assassinated the opportunity for a long term ceasefire between Israel and Gaza

The Journalists Syndicate decided to withdraw from the Constituent Assembly, following a meeting on Tuesday, to protest a number of draft articles and what it said was negligence of its proposals.

The National Council for Human Rights in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense launched the first database on the criteria of human rights, applied by other countries and the United Nations.

The new database includes the dates Egypt signed international human rights treaties.

Read original text in Arabic

A new government lineup under a prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood group is almost finalized, according to the ikhwanonline.com website. [Mustafá Zahrān and Muhammad Rabī’, al-Misryūn, Nov. 20, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic

All eyes are set today (November 18) on the Saint Mark Cathedral in the Cairo district of al-‘Abbāssīyah to follow up the church’s celebrations of the enthronement of Bishop Tawadros II as the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church in succession of Pope Shenouda III, who passed away in March, to be attended by Prime Minister Hishām Qandīl. [Ashraf Sādiq, al-Ahrām, Nov. 18, p. 2] Read original text in Arabic

Thousands of Christians and Muslims attended the ceremony to enthrone Bishop Tawadros II as the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church in succession of Pope Shenouda III, who passed away in March. [Ashraf Sādiq, al-Ahrām, Nov. 19, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic