Rose al-Yūsuf

Counselor Muhammad al-Bastāwī, Public Attorney for Shubrā al-Khaymah prosecution, arrested four suspects in the incidents of Shubrā al-Khaymah which resulted in two deaths and other injuries.

In Rose al-Yūsuf, page 3, June 29, 2011, seven suspects, Muslims and Copts, arrested in the incidents [Click here].

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The Administrative Court decided not to hand down a decision on Kāmīliyā Shihātah's case, filed by the Islamists lawyer's association demanding that Shihātah's location be revealed, until the completion of the Public Prosecution's investigation.

[Reviewer's Note: News story was also covered in Rose al-Yūsuf, page 3, June 29, 2011]

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Two citizens were injured in sectarian clashes in Awlād Khalaf village, Sohag governorate, after the local administration demolished a church that was built without license.

Wahīb Wahbah, a Christian local resident, was issued a license to build a house over an area of 90 meters.

The administration then found out that he is building a church over 300 meters.

The local security forces demolished the house, prompting the Christians in the village to open fire, leaving a few people wounded and four houses owned by Copts burned.

Security forces were deployed in the troubled governorate and imposed a curfew on the village.

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Muhammad 'Abd al-Qudūs praises the church and Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III for the stance against protests by young Copts who want to resume rallies off the Radio & TV building in Maspero area to push the state to achieve some of their demands.

On top of these demands is reopening closed churches and enacting a unified law regulating the construction of houses of worship.

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The Supreme State Security Prosecution resumed negotiations with Ilan Chaim Grapel, an Israeli Mossad officer accused of spying, sparking sectarian unrest and igniting troubles between the army and the people through spreading chaos and acts of violence.

Investigations showed that Grapel was interested in monitoring developments between Muslims and Copts during the days of the January 25 revolution.

He said that one of the aspects he was watching and severely disturbed Israel was the Family House initiative launched by the Azhar and the Coptic Orthodox Church to withstand sectarian strife.

 Ashrāf Syndicate is forming a public delegation from members of the syndicate, Azhar, Ministry of Awqaf [Endowments], and Egyptian churches to strengthen relations between Egypt and Nile River basin countries.

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Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III assures that issuing a unified law for building houses of worship will affirm the concept of citizenship and equality between all Egyptian citizens. This came in a meeting with the leaders of Christian denominations in Egypt.

[Reviewer's Note: News story was also covered in Rose al-Yūsuf, page 6, June 16, 2011; and al-Akhbār, page 10, June 16, 2011]

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Less than 30 days after the incident of fitnah in Imbābah, a new fitnah looked as though it would be sparked when a Muslim young-woman disappeared with a Christian young-man, announced his conversion to Islam to marry her, then they traveled to Alexandria after getting married.

Clashes between families of both parties erupted on June 8, 2011, and resulted in the injury of four persons.

Clashes were going to ascend in the region if the Security apparatuses had not interfered to control the situation.

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Rāmī Kāmil, Coordinator of Maspero Youths Coalition, said that the coalition does not accept that Coptic laymen should join the fitnah prevention commission.

Kāmil added that the coalition gave the government a month to discuss the rest of Coptic issues.

Archpriest Sergius, Deputy Patriarch, said that Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III's return date from his health trip is not yet known.

Meanwhile, the three Christian denominations in Egypt agreed that they need to review the draft unified law for houses of worship before being it is issued by the cabinet.

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