Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Al-Ahrām [p.1, September 15, 2011] reported that Pope Shenouda III has praised Turkey for its political position in regard to its refusal to co-operate with Israel and its practices in Palestine. This praise came when the pope welcomed Erdogan, at St. Mark's Church in Abbāssīyah, where he expressed appreciation on behalf of Egypt for Turkey's international leadership. For his part, Erdogan commended the Coptic Church for its role as a stable and reliable state institution, and for its cooperation with Azhar in promoting intercultural dialogue, and reinforcement of Islamic-Christian cooperation in regional and national issues. Erdogan also pointed to the importance of spreading proper religious values, and the refusal of extremism and radicalization in the name of religion.

Rose al-Yūsuf [p.11, September 15, 2011] reported a similar story: Erdogan arrived in Abbāssīyah to a rapturous reception from bishops, priests and Christians who had flocked to the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Church, where he was warmly received by Pope Shenouda. In their meeting, Erdogan said that the Copts are an integral part of the Egyptian people, and congratulated him on the good reputation he has maintained.
 

Meanwhile, al-Fajr [p.17, September 19, 2011] reported on Dr. Ahmad al-Tayīb, Sheikh of Azhar, and Dr. ‘Alī Jum‘ah, Mufti of the Republic, meeting with Erdogan in his recent visit to Azhar, where he said the Azhar document should be “a religious reference in the Islamic world” and requested a translation of the document into Turkish. [Reviewer's note: there is no link on the internet.]

Al-Misrī al-Yawm [p.3, September 15, 2011] ran a report about Erdogan's meeting with the mentioned Muslim and Christian leaders, in addition to potential candidates for the presidency (Dr. Muhammad al-Barād‘ī, ‘Amr Mūsá, and Dr. ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Abū al-Futūh). In a meeting with the Turkish ambassador, Erdogan said that Arab leaders should be "leaders of change" rather than resisting it. He also met with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantāwī, leader of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and 'Isām Sharaf, Prime Minister of Egypt, and attended a meeting of the Arab League to discuss the regional situation surrounding Arab foreign ministers.

In Rose al-Yūsuf [p.11, September 15, 2011], it was also mentioned that he met with representatives from various Egyptian political parties in order to discuss fresh concerns about the rise of civil Islamists in Egypt, and its potential impact on politics. Erdogan tried to promote the benefits of keeping religion and politics separate, in a secular state, maintaining that “a commitment to the secular state does not push religion aside”. He also called for an end to the sectarian strife that has plagued Egypt since the revolution, and said that the new leadership must try to prevent it in order to preserve the cohesion and unity of the Egyptian people.