Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The investigating judge, mandated by the public prosecutor, questioned the defendants on the charges pressed against them, which include murder, attempted murder, damaging public property, perpetration of acts of terrorism and disrupting public order and peace during a closed session where there were no journalists and relatives of defendants allowed.

The Military Prosecution had been investigating the suspects and decided to have them under 15 days' custody pending investigations. They were later referred to the Public Prosecution. [Ibrāhīm Fahmī and Amīr Hazā', Al-Ahrām, Dec. 14, p. 6]  Read the original article in Arabic

Several relatives of the suspects gathered outside the courthouse and affirmed that the suspects were innocent of any charges pressed against them. 

"My son Hānī Mahmūd, a car electrician, received a phone call from an Egyptian Radio & TV employee and his wife asking him to come over to fix their car in Maspero. He want there and fixed the vehicle but was later implicated in the incidents and arrested by Military Police personnel and kept him under custody in the TV building," said Hānī's mother. [Author not mentioned, al-Akhbār, Dec. 14, p. 4] Read text in Arabic

Meanwhile, Bishop Marqus of Shubrā al-Khaymah said that he is not concerned by the majority win made by Islamists in the People's Assembly elections, adding that Islam considers the rights of others, particularly Copts. 

"The moderation of the Azhar must be a model that should be pursued by Islamists now that it is a reference for everyone in the Muslim world," said Bishop Marqus in statements. [Abū Sirī' Imām, al-Ahrām, Dec. 14, p. 13] Read the original text in Arabic

Dr. 'Abd al-Mawjūd Rājih, the deputy leader of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood group in Luxor, Upper Egypt, said that this time calls for agreement, not disputes.

Rājih made the remarks during a meeting by a visiting church delegation under Priest Armanius of the Virgin Mary Church in Luxor to congratulate him over his win of a singles' seat in the People's Assembly (parliament). 

Priest Armanius said that new Luxor Member of Parliament enjoys good reputation. [Author not mentioned, al-Ahrām, Dec. 14, p. 13] Read the original text in Arabic