Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Dear Mr. Hulsman:


I have read the weekly publication entitled The Religious News Service from the Arab World, which offers translations and summaries from the Arabic press. Indeed it is very impressive, and I was interested to find my name mentioned in the release of Week 7, 1999. Edition February 11-18, 1999, item 13. It appeared in Watani by Adel Kamel about the publication entitled The Liturgy of St. Basil, which includes the Mass with the complete musical transcription.



The information is accurate except for two minor errors, I am the NIECE of Dr. Ragheb Moftah, and not his wife, he is my uncle. The other minor error is that my name is spelt out Laurence Moftah and not Lawrence Muftah.



Thank you in advance

Laurence Moftah

Coordinator of Reference Services

American University in Cairo Library

Our response:

Dear Ms. Moftah,


The RNSAW highly appreciates your comment. We appreciate readers’ constructive comments which encourage us to prepare the best quality service possible. The translator has made an error by calling you Dr. Moftah’s wife. Please accept our apologies for this. Misspelling of names is always a problem because of the inconsistent way names are transcribed out of Arabic texts. Errors in misspelling of names have probably also happened with some other names in the RNSAW. Whenever names are known they are checked. Unfortunately time and other constraints do not always allow us check names we come across in the various articles we feature in the RNSAW. We do sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced due to our error, and hope you understand the difficulties we face in this matter.


Drs. Cornelis Hulsman,

Editor, RNSAW.