Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) announced a stand of protest on the outside the Syndicate of Journalists headquarters under the rubric No For Devastation Of the State Of Law to condemn excesses against the local residents in al-‘Āmirīyah, western Alexandria, and calls to expel 45 Christian families from the district on Friday. [Usāmah Ramadān, Rose al-Yūsuf newspaper, Feb. 2, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Ann Emil Zakī, a 35-year-old mother of four, adamantly insisted to become the first Egyptian woman to be ordained as priest right after she finished her theological studies. [Mīrā Mamdūh, Rose al-Yūsuf magazine, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, pp. 58-59] Read original text in Arabic

In a flagrant inciting language, the U.S. think-tank RAND said the Copts now have a historic chance to prepare for declaring their state in light of the current incidents in Egypt. [Rose al-Yūsuf newspaper, December 20, p. 1] The article has no link online

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III rejected demands made by some expatriate Copts for international protection of Coptic buildings in Egypt.

Donors and organizations usually support particular organizations that may have religious immunity which allows them to breach the rule of law. When there is no control over such organizations, social work becomes a tool to penetrate Egypt at all levels. Rose al-Yūsuf continues to publish the financial statements of foreign grants received by the Christian organization of Caritas. It unveils countries and international organizations that fund these entities without the knowledge of the state or its means of controls. Ironically, organizations that receive funds from abroad are not subject to the control of the Central Accounting Authority [CAA] and this control is limited to organizations that get subsidies from the government. This led to the spread of foreign funds that are not subject to accountability and control is confined to a follow-up by directorates of social solidarity in different governorates.

A new development confirms the veracity of the church's position with regards to the incident of Mārīnāb village, Aswan, in which the church and shops of Copts were burnt. Rose al-Yūsuf  got information from sources inside the papal residence that the church has sent a copy of the license that the Diocese of Aswan had obtained to build a new church with domes.

The Catholic Church rejected calls for boycotting the elections under the pretext of resolving the battle for religious trends because of the unsatisfactory division of constituencies.  

The Egyptian Dār al-Iftā' has won an international award from Switzerland as the best and most influential Islamic institution throughout the world in media and communication during 2011. The award was presented by the international Media Tenor Organization in Switzerland in a big party, in the presence of a number of international officials. This makes it the first Islamic institution to receive such an award.

I have recently noticed newspapers belonging to religious parties appear on the stands, which is fine as long they observe national principles, but I am afraid there might appear Christian newspapers to confront the Islamist ones, writes Usāmah Salāmah, Editor-in-Chief of Rose al-Yūsuf magazine.

The Coptic Church rejected the demands raised by some U.S. think tanks for an alternative homeland for Copts. A large number of bishops and priests stressed the necessity of confronting such demands which fuel sectarian tension in Egypt and the Middle East.