Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Shaykh Usāmah Hāfiz, deputy chairman of the al-Jamā'ah al-Islāmīyah Shūra (Consultative) Council, said that the Jamā'ah has played a part in containing the sectarian fitnah that followed the murder of an Assiut priest and the incidents that erupted in Abū Qurqās.

"The United States is capitalizing on the Coptic issue to serve its own interests. On the other hand, the expatriate Copts are igniting fitnah in favor of foreign interference," said Hāfiz in an interview with al-Ahrār newspaper.

He said that the Jamā'ah is not supporting a theocracy.

"We welcome a civil state that would respect the teachings of Allah and the values of the society," said Hāfiz, noting keenness on pleasing God and enhancing the nation's stability was behind the Jamā'ah's launching of a violence-ending initiative.

Engineer Salāh Hāshim, one of the founders of the Jamā'ah Islāmīyah (Islamic Group), said unity of the different factions and movements would furnish an opportunity for the Islamists to make it to power.

Shaykh 'Alā' Abū al-'Azāyim, the head of the Sufi 'Azmīyah Order, said his group has never supported Mubārak or his regime as some rumor, adding the Sufis are never silent over rulers' injustice because Sufis are not parasites in the society.

"The Supreme Council for Sufi Orders is fighting whoever tries to offer a good thing to Egypt, which is not strange to a body led by a remnant of the former regime," Shaykh 'Alā' said in an interview to al-Ahrār newspaper, the mouthpiece of the al-Ahrār (Liberal) Party.

He pointed out that whoever believe that religion is away from politics are so naïve, adding Sufism has always been marginalized since the time of late Egyptian President Jamāl 'Abd al-Nāsir.

Hours after the killing of Egyptian soldier by Israeli forces, the Egyptian deputy ambassador to Israel took iftar at Israeli President Shimon Peres' house in Jerusalem.  The Egyptian ambassador, Yasser Reda, had declined the invitation. Peres expressed his regrets at the death of Egyptian citizens, and said he hoped the issue could be resolved in a way acceptable to Egypt.
 

The Supreme State Security Prosecution held 'Ādil Labīb, Coptic businessman, and others in custody for 15 days for further investigation, accusing them of meditated murder, and jeopardizing general security.

Maurice Sādiq assured that he plans to return to Cairo within a few days, and that no one can prevent him from visiting his country. He noted that he will challenge the case and will turn to the Hague-based International Court of Justice if the verdict was not suspended.

A church source denied what was published in the news about church instructions to prevent the participation of Copts in the second Friday of wrath. The source assured that Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III is still on his health trip in the United States of America, and did not make any statements about the issue.

The military court issued a decision to freeze imprisoning 'Abīr Fakhrī, Imbābah sedition-monger. They will reconsider her sentence on June 9, 2011.

The State Security prosecution is investigating the incidents in Imbābah. On a different note, the State Security prosecution is considering the clashes which erupted in November 2010  between State Security men and Copts in al-'Umrānīyah district.

The military prosecution decided to release 20 of the culprits in Imbābah and renew the imprisonment of 7.

A church source, from the Papal See, assured that Kāmīliyā Shihātah, Dayr Mawās priest's wife, will appear before the prosecution on May 24, 2011 after being summoned on May 14, 2011.

The source said that the decision came after discussions with a number of legal consultants for the Coptic Church, who affirmed that Shihātah's appearance and clarifying that she is Christian will put an end to questions about her religion.

Dr. Muhammad Salīm al-'Awā, Islamic thinker, said that the Muslim Brotherhood is the biggest power in the Arab world, assuring that he will not vote for a candidate unless he first ensures his religious commitment.

"We don't want a candidate who won't mention Allah's Name before he speaks," said al-'Awā.