Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Q: Why has not the Egyptian government not authorized building churches? Why did Dr Mufīd Shihāb say that we have more churches than Christians? Why did no’t the Azhar Grand Imām authorize Muslims’ donations to build churches like Christians do for mosques?

A: Those people have followed the Islamic teachings that reject and do not like the existence of churches. Their principles and Sharī‘ah urge them not to allow building churches and to destroy existing ones [….] the other thing is that Muslims always look down on Christians; so how can they say that they consider them their brothers.

 

Father Marqus ‘Azīz stateds that he had met with Shaykh Fawzī al-Zafzāfī who told him that there are conditions on building mosques and not only churches. Father ‘Azīz expresseds his approval to of applying the same conditions of building mosques on churches.

 

Father ‘Azīz states d that there is a mosque built near every church; however, it is not allowed to build churches near mosques;. even Even if the church existed and was destroyed, it cannot be rebuilt if there is a nearby mosque.

 

Father ‘Azīz further criticizeds the expression ‘Coptic expatriates’ and criticizedisparagedd accusing Copts who live abroad of treason and disloyalty to their home country. He aAt the same time, he wondereds why such term is not used with its negative connotation to describe Muslims who live abroad.

 

However Father ‘Azīz said that there are Muslim enlightened figures who think positively of Christians. From those he mentioned journalist and writer Salāh Muntasir and the prominent writer and scenarist Usāmah Anwar ‘Ukāshah.

 

On the other hands, he stated that there are many others who mix politics with religion. He added that he had studied Islam for 18 years and came up with the conclusion that Islam is a religion that promotes violence and blood shedding. Comparing between Islam and Christianity, he said that the second calls for peace while the first calls for the opposite.

 

Q: Is there peace for non -Muslims in Islam’s countries?

A: If thea country becomes Islamic, non -Muslims will not be in peace. However, under the rule of a civil state peace will prevail for everyone. There is Nno peace under the Islamic Sharī‘ah.