Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

During a meeting held at the Sālih Kāmil Center for Islamic Economy at the Azhar

University,

in celebration of the publication of al-Tibyān newspaper by the

Sharī‘a

Society for the Cooperation of the Followers of the Qur’ān and the

Sunna, Dr. Muhammad

‘Imāra gave a short statement on the reasons behind sectarian

sedition in

Egypt.

Hānī Labīb quotes Dr. ‘Imāra as saying that Pope

Shenouda III

is responsible for the current tension between Muslims and Christians in Egypt. Lābīb

accuses Dr.

‘Imāra of igniting sectarian sedition and making wild, unsubstantiated

accusations against the

pope. Dr. ‘Imāra discussed the tension in the relationship between

the pope and late President

Muhammad Anwar al-Sādāt, holding the pope alone responsible for the

repercussions of this tension,

which have lasted until the present time.

Labīb admits that

President al-Sādāt’s era

was one of the tensest periods in the relationship between the president of

Egypt and the pope. This tension

reached its peak in the late 1970s, leading to the assassination of al-

Sadāt and the downfall of “the

government of science and religion”, for which al-Sadāt called.

Labīb further blames al-

Sādāt for this tension, citing the president’s label, “The Believer

President,” his slogan “the

government of science and religion,” and his famous phrase “a Muslim head of a

Muslim state,” which Labīb

says spoilt the relationship between Muslims and Christians in

Egypt.

[Editor: It is too simple to blame

only Pope Shenouda or only President Sadat for the

sectarian tensions in the last years of Sadat, both leaders were

responsible. It is not uncommon that

Egyptian Christians refuse to admit publicly that the head of their church was

also responsible for certain

tensions, i.e. those of the late seventies. Hānī Labīb gives the

impression of wanting to please

those who believe that religious leaders stand above critique.]