Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Hundreds of Copts continue protesting for the ninth day in a row in the Maspero area, demonstrating the Imbābah incidents.

During the demonstration, protesters were surprised by stones being thrown at them from the top of 6 October and 15 May bridges [Read the details of the clashes that erupted]. 

These clashes resulted in 78 injuries with no deaths. All injured persons admitted to hospitals were released, except for 18 individuals, who the Ministry of Health claims are in a stable condition.  

Protests continued even after Pope Shenouda's call to end them. 

On the other hand, the Egyptian Prime Ministry reopened 16 churches from the first installment of closed churches.

In al-Wafd, page 4 and 5, May 16, 2011, Archpriest Mattias Nasr, Priests of Saint Marqus Church in ‘Izbit al-Nakhl, assured that the protest will continue until Copts demands are met. These demands include: the immediate release of 34 detainees, arrest of whoever was involved in the demolishing of churches in ‘Ātfīh and Imbābah, the reopening of 48 closed churches, applying the law banning religious discrimination, law for building worship places, and the ousting of the minister of interior Affairs.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat, page 7, May 16, 2011, reported that 44 suspects, Muslims and Chrsitians, have been arrested [Read original text in Arabic].

In page 9, May 15, 2011, reports note that Christians eased their sit-in by Maspero, 11 of the Imbābah culprits were arrested and will remain detained for 15 days until the end of an investigation [click here]. 

[Reviewer’s Note: The news story was also covered in al-Dustūr, page 1, May 16, 2011].