Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Church and Coptic figures lashed out at the Constitution panel and the percentage of Copts in it, considering the constituent assembly as “shameful” and stressing that they will not accept discrimination against Copts. [‘Imād Khalīl, al-Misrī al-Yawm, March 26, 2012, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic 

The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedoms report grilled the ruling authorities in Egypt, which, it said, caused religious freedom violations, adding Egypt, the heart of the Arab Spring, has seen hope turning into panic after human rights deteriorations under the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). [Bassant Sayn al-Dīn, al-Misrī al-Yawm, March 22, p. 3] read original text in Arabic

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians on Tuesday (March 20) attended the funeral of Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III that started at Saint Mark Cathedral in the Cairo district of al-‘Abbāssīyah amidst unprecedented security measures to control the pope-loving masses who tried to enter the cathedral to get a last look on the deceased prelate. [‘Imād Khalīl and Dālyā ‘Uthmān, al-Misrī al-Yawm, March 21, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic

Field Marshal Muhammad Husayn Tantāwī, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) endorsed an announcement of public morning in Egypt over the death of Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III, who passed away this week at the age of 89. [Walā’ Wahīd, al-Wafd, March 20, 2012] Read text in Arabic

Bishop Yu'annis, Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III's secretary, said the visit by Dr. Muhammad Badī', the Murshid (Guide) of the Muslim Brotherhood, to the pope after the weekly sermon on Wednesday (March 7) at St. Mark Cathedral was one paid by a "venerated personality we highly respect and appreciate". [Ahmad Habīb, al-Hurīyah wal-Adālah, March 9, p. 1] Read text in Arabic

Dr. Munīr Hannā Anīs, the head of the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, said Christians of Egypt are for keeping Article 2 of the constitution that reads Islam is the official religion of the state and principles of the sharī’ah are the main source of legislation. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Ahrām, March 2, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic

Dr. Nājih Ibrāhīm, a key founder of the Jamā’ah Islāmīyah in Egypt and the first chairman of its shūrá (consultative) council, offered an apology to Copts for “what has befallen them as a result of the Jamā’ah’s mistakes during the 1970s and 1980s”. [Robeir al-Fāris, Watanī, March 4, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Strict Islam infected restaurants and cafés after demands to allow beard growing were raised inside the army, interior ministry and judiciary. [Rānyā Nabīl, al-Ahālī, Feb. 29, p. 3] Read text in Arabic

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

In an attempt to ease the tension between protesters in al-Tahrīr square and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), 65 activists and public figures suggest opening up nominations for presidential candidates on 25 January, closing the nomination period on the anniversary of former President Husnī Mubārak's resignation on 11 February. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Dec. 25, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic