Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights’ [http://www.eohr.org/report/2005/re0500.htm] symposium on the "secularization of the state," has turned into a circle of Coptic-Muslim Brotherhood debate on canceling the second article of the Egyptian constitution, which reads that Islam is the state religion and Islamic sharī‘a is the main source for legislation. A number of Muslim and Coptic leading figures have participated in the symposium, including Muslim Brotherhood prominent leader, Dr. ‘Isām al-‘Iryān, and pastor of the Hanging Church, Father Marqus ‘Azīz, among others.



In his speech to the participants, Dr. al-‘Iryān stated that "Egypt, as well as the Arab world, is living in a postmodern stage, where secularism is employed to serve religion." Also, al-‘Aryān made it clear that the Muslim Brotherhood is against secularism of the state, arguing that "secularism left more than 100 million victims in modern and contemporary history." World War I and II, he added, were the natural outcome of secularism, which is now leading to a third world war."



Dr. al-‘Iryān has referred to Dr. ‘Abd al-Wahāb al-Musyyarī’s [Reviewer: No information given about him] definition of secularism, distinguishing between "secularism which accepts and respects religion" and "secularism which despises religion."



Dr. al-‘Iryān has described Judge Najīb Jibrā’īl’s calls to cancel the second article of the Egyptian constitution as "fighting a losing battle," adding that Coptic issues are not referred to Islamic sharī‘a. He has noted that the Muslim Brotherhood is seeking an Islamic state, which guarantees equal human rights to all citizens, regardless of their religion, since "all religions are placed on an equal footing under Islamic law."



On the other hand, Father ‘Azīz has addressed the participants saying, "We are unbelievers as they call us....Muslims say that whoever is not a Muslim is an unbeliever. We, Christians, love our Muslim brothers. The Holy Bible says ’God is love.’ During the Islamic conquests,” Father ‘Azīz continues, "Christians were distinguished from Muslims in dress...Christians were not buried beside Muslims, and they did not have the right to pray aloud....Why should we [Reviewer: referring to Christians] hear the azān [call to prayer] at the same time [that] we pray in a whisper."