Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Lawyers of the martyrs’ families called for applying “the severest penalty” – execution – against ousted President Husnī Mubārak, his sons Jamāl and ‘Alā’, former interior minister Habīb al-‘Ādlī and six of his top aides on charges of involvement in killing demonstrators during the January 25, 2011 upheaval. [‘Isām Milījī, Khālid Abū al-‘Iz, Samīrah ‘Alī ‘Ayyād and ‘Amr ‘Alī al-Fār, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 10, p. 1] read original text in Arabic

The Azhar vehemently rejected the setting up of a so-called Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), asserting that the top Sunni Muslim establishment is the only Muslim reference concerned with religious affairs in Egypt. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Ahrām, Jan. 5, p. 14] Read original text in Arabic

Supporters of the Salafī al-Nūr (Light) Party in al-Beheira governorate handed out fliers in which they urged voters to cast their ballots in favor of the party and that anyone not voting for al-Nūr would be "a sinner in the heart, profligate and dishonest because they letting down the party that seeks implementing the sharī'ah (Muslim law) of Allāh." [Al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Dec. 22, p. 3] Read the original text in Arabic

Dr. Sa‘d al-Dīn Ibrāhīm, the director of Ibn Khaldoun Center, emphasized that he asked for a parliamentary quota, ranging between 15 percent and 20 percent for Copts. “Pope Shenouda stood against the idea and told me "We are not a minority and we not need a quota for Copts,” Ibrāhīm added.

Egypt's post-revolution sectarian troubles are raising some scary questions about the future of the relationship between the partners in the nation.

Under the motto "Returning to God…prayers for Egypt," more than 300,000 Copts gathered in prayers held by the Egyptian Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic churches at the Saint Sam'ān al-Kharāz Monastery, in the al-Muqatam area, to pray for the nation's peace and stability.

The Coptic Ortodox Church refused Coptic activists' calls to boycott the elections.

A Prominent Archbishop in the Holy Synod, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the church would never accept these calls. 

He added that Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III's instructions with regards to this issue are clear; Copts need to participate by voting and electing themselves in the elections, furthermore, contribute in building the future of a democratic Egypt

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Approximately 300 Coptic youth, representing different Coptic movements, cut access to Ramsīs Street objecting threats by a number of Muslims to demolish Idfū church in Aswan governorate.

Coptic movements demanded forming a fact-finding commission to investigate the attack on the church, arresting the perpetrators, renewing the church, ousting Aswan's governor, and the rapid issuance of a unified law for building houses of worship.

Movements gave the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) 48 hours to meet their demands or else they will organize an open sit-in.

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Dr. Shirīf Dūs, president of the General Coptic Association, is intending to hold talks with presidents of liberal and leftist political parties to form a coalition in the next parliament elections to compete with Islamists.

Dr. Ihāb Ramzī, lawyer and Coptic activist, is estimating that 50 Coptic candidates will run in the elections.

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Dr. 'Alī Abū al-Khayr, an Islamic writer, warns against salafists who issued fatwás about covering the faces of the Pharaonic statues with wax because they look like idols.

'Abd al-Mun'im al-Shahāt, a salafī leader, said that the Egyptian  civilization is rotten and the statues look like the idols around the Ka'abah.

A lot of salafīs called for demolishing the monuments claiming that they are only idols.