Al-Dustūr

The Coptic Orthodox Church had demanded from the Cabinet to present it with the Unified Law for Building Houses of Worship.

A church source assured that the cathedral refuses the idea of financial supervision of the church, because the church does not get donations from the State but from individual Copts.

The source also demanded the issuance of the personal status law for non-Muslims, specially that it is ready and agreed upon by the three Coptic denominations.

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The Egyptian center for human rights called for retrying the defendants involved in the 'Ayn Shams church incidents before civil courts after military courts sentenced three Copts to imprisonment terms.

Considering the tough circumstances the country is going through, defendants need to stand before civil courts so that their rights are preserved, according to the center in a statement on Saturday, May 28, 2011.

Hudá al-Kāshif, a female Muslim preacher, called in a study for activating the Azhar's role to strengthen citizenship and confront sectarian troubles that "only aim to devastate the nation and sow division among the people."

Kāshif, who is also a member of the Scientific Academy for Qur'ān and Sunnah Research, appealed to Grand Shaykh of the Azhar Dr. Ahmad al-Tayīb to set up Azharite centers in and outside Egypt so as to spread moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

She termed recent developments in Egypt as "intellectual terrorism based on ill ideologies that have nothing to do with Islam or Christianity."

 'Abd al-Mun'im Shahāt, spokesperson of salafī-hardline, said that salafists refuse non-religious-democracy, pointing out that they will not give up applying hadds, as it is mentioned in Sunnah. 

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.

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) held a public conference on May 28, 2011, in Shubrā al-Khaymah, to improve their image after they missed the second revolution of anger on Friday, May 27, 2011.

Dr. Muhammad al-Biltājī fawned over Copts, assuring the MB's commitment to defend them.

Dr. Muhammad Ghunaym, coordinator of National Front for Change in Dakahlia, said that he respect the Muslim Brotherhood and political parties but he asks them to respect other political movements and not to use religion to eliminate others. He added that Islam allows one to be a Muslim but with different political ideologies, pointing to himself as an example, noting he is a leftist Muslim not a communist.

The Military Judiciary decided on May 28, 2011, to refer 'Abīr Fakhrī Tal'at, sedition-monger in Imbābah, with all other culprits, to the Supreme State Security Court.

 'Amr Khālid, Islamic preacher, said that Islam rejects the religious state because it makes a person holy and talks on behalf of Allah, which is rejected both religiously and politically.

In a European Union of Coptic Organizations for Human Rights conference, Khālid rejected using religion in politics because it influences the emotion of a person and force him to make something against his will.

He clarified that the civil state is not against religion, and that love, honesty and forgiveness are the basis of a civil state.

The Council of State courts witnessed clashes and attacks from rivals or defendants in many cases and challenging cases. Armored vehicles from anti-riot security cordoned off the main street leading to the council.