Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

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

Under the title Documented, Accurate Figure – Census of Copts is 18.565.484 million, Mājid 'Attīyah writes in a column in Watanī newspaper of January 15 that Dr. Tharwat Basīlī has said he has a documented, accurate figure of the Coptic population in Egypt and that he challenges anyone who would want to prove it is wrong. [Mājid 'Attīyah, Watanī, Jan. 15, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic

In a good initiative, the Coptic Evangelical Church of Qasr al-Dūbārah opened its gates for treating the young people wounded or suffering from asphyxiation due to the numerous tear gas canisters fired by the central anti-riot police against protesters in al-Tahrīr Square.

For the first time, the General Coptic Organization in Egypt publish an advertisement in Watanī to recommend candidates for the coming parliamentary elections in the first phase.

[Reviewer's Note: these candidates represent the opinion of the organization and not the church.]

Military ruler approved the appeal of victims' families of Naj' Hammādī massacre, which resulted in the death of seven Copts and a police officer, and will retry both al-Qirshī Abū al-Hajāj, second suspect, and Nidāwī Sayīd Muhammad, third suspect. Both have been acquitted from the case where al-Kamūnī was executed.

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The Military prosecution decided to renew the custody of 31 suspects in Maspero incidents (case number:855, East Cairo Military Criminal Court, known as Maspero incidents).

In the same case, the court rejected the appeal on remanding the blogger 'Alā' 'Abd al-Fatāh, who has been in custody for 15 days.

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Leading Muslim Brotherhood member Khayrat al-Shātir denied there was a fatwa made during a meeting of the Islamic Legitimate Body of Rights and Reformation (ILBRR‏), attended by members of Islamist groups, that no one should vote for liberals and seculars in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

"This (fatwa) was not true at all. None of the people who were present in that meeting said voting for liberals and seculars should be prohibited," said Shātir in statements to Watanī newspaper.

The fatwa, which had been purportedly made by Islamist movements during an ILBRR meeting attended by Shātir and 'Abūd al-Zumur, held that liberals and seculars are embracing extremist ideas that are a far cry from the spirit of Islam.

[The article has no link online]

I am not alone in feeling wary about the outcome of the fact-finding mission charged with investigating the Maspero massacre of the Copts on 9 October, and the incident which led up to it: the burning of Mar-Girgis (St George) church in Merinab, Aswan on 30 September. Facts which are now being disclosed by the day, draw a clear scenario of both cases; the fact-finding commission will place itself in a dire corner if it shies away from giving a candid, credible account of the events.

A decree criminalizing discrimination has been issued but is it really going to be applied to hardliners spreading fanaticism, extremism and hatred through the media or will it be applied only to the weak (Copts)? wonders Nādir Shukrī in an opinion article in Watanī.

Coptic Orthodox Bishop Mūsá of Youths said that the Copts were protesting to express their frustration regarding attacks on churches now that the investigations have not come up with something concrete.