Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Political activist Michael Meunier, the leader of Al-Haya Party, denied all prosecution charges of involvement in the October 9 incidents outside the state radio & TV building in the area of Maspero that left 24 people dead and 350 others wounded. [Hātim al-Jahmī, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Feb. 23, p. 9] Read text in Arabic

The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) held the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and police "entirely responsible" for any loss of life, property or that Copts besieged inside a church in the village of Mīt Bashār in al-Zaqāzīq, al-Sharqia governorate, or the Muslims trying to protect the church to any harm on the grounds that they are in charge of security in the country. [Muhammad Imām, al-Jumhūrīyah, Feb. 16, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Subhī Sālih, a member of parliament from the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), said there are some attempts to spark a falling out between youths in al-Tahrīr Square and parliament on one hand and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on the other. [Fātimah ‘Abd al-Bāsit, al-Akhbār, Jan. 30, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic

The Party Affairs Committee approved the formation of al-Hayāh Party, founded by Michael Munīr [Coptic activist and head of U.S. Coptic Association].

Munīr said that the party is liberal and not religious. It has Coptic and Muslim members and it believes in human rights and freedom under the pretext of a civil state that can protect its citizens.

[Reviewer's Note: News story was also mentioned in al-Jumhūrīyah, page 6, November 1, 2011 and al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, page 5, November 1, 2011; both have no links online.]

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Michael Munīr, founder and president of U.S. Copts Association, Coptic activist for the expatriate Copts and co-founder of al-Hayāh [under establishment] political party, said that the party is not religious and does not represent Copts alone, but rather that it is a liberal political party.

Munīr called for a civil state that assures citizens rights.

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The Copts without Borders movement issued a statement condemning Michael's Munīr's (expatriate Copt and Coptic activist) statement to establish a political party that protects Copts.

Sharīf Ramzī, the movement's coordinator, said that Copts have a full citizenship and do not require a party to protect them.

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U.S.-based expatriate Coptic activist Michael Munīr said on Saturday that Egyptians are worried about any religious group taking power in Egypt. He told reporters in Alexandria that the Muslim Brotherhood has a right to be present in Egypt’s political scene as it represents a segment of Egyptian society, but regarding fears of a Brotherhood member becoming president, he said that the possibility worries both Copts and Muslims.

The first time there was chatter about the establishment of a Coptic state was during the time of late President Anwar al-Sadāt, when the idea of setting up the so-called State of Assiut had first emerged.

US-based Coptic expatriate and activist Michael Munīr told journalists on Saturday April 16, 2011, that Muslim and Coptic Egyptians are worried about a possible religious takeover in Egypt, with Shaykhs and priests ruling the country. Although he accepts the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) right to form a political party, Munīr expressed concerns regarding the possibility of future presidential candidates that are affiliated with the MB.

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Michael Munīr, founder and president of the U.S. Copts Association, was in Tahrīr Square during the 25 Revolution and asked not to exaggerate in factional demands until the success of the revolution, then disappeared in the following 'Million' Revolution [where more than one million persons participated].