CAPMAS works in accordance with the rules of the global statistics community and these require that a man's religion is a very personal relationship between themselves and their god, he said in an interview with al-Wafd newspaper.
He said the question about religion during the census and surveys is an optional one that is answered by some and refused by others, noting the spaces left for religion questions include Muslim, Christian, Jew and others. "It is not my business if this or that is Shiite, Salafist or other."
It is true that the 1986 census has accurately specified the Coptic population but that was because before the United Nations issued rules that made the people's answers for questions about their religious beliefs during census optional.
The first population of Egypt took place in 1882 and was conducted by the British then, said Jindī, pointing out that the rate of Christians from the total population during that time was 8.1% but later decreased from one census to another.
"Christians are more inclined to migrate. Their scientific and economic conditions are mostly high and consequently have less children (compared to Muslims) and that is why their rate in the society is down 0.1% or 0.2% in each census. This should explain why their rate reached 5.7% in 1986, and accordingly they are now about 5% of the total population in Egypt," said the CAPMAS chief. [Majdī Salāmah, Al-Wafd, Dec. 29, p. 12] Read original text in Arabic
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood announced that it already set up informal groups to participate in the protection of churches during the New Year's Eve and Eastern Coptic Christmas celebrations.
The Brotherhood, in a statement congratulating Copts as well as Muslim on the Christmas, called on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the police to protect churches like they have protected the elections. [Hānī 'Izat, Al-Ahrām, Dec. 29, p. 6] Read the original text in Arabic
[A report of the same content was also mentioned in al-Akhbār, Dec. 29, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic
Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III ordered Archpriest Sergius Sergius, deputy of the patriarchate for administrative affairs, to send Coptic Orthodox Christmas Mass invitations to all political parties including the Salafī ones like al-Asālah (Authenticity), al-Fadīlah (Virtue) and al-Nūr (Light) as well as the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood sent a high-level delegation under Dr. Mahmūd 'Izat, the deputy murshid (guide), to offer congratulations to Pope Shenouda and all Egyptian Christians over the Eastern Coptic Christmas, due on January 7. ['Imād Khalīl, Hānī al-Wazīrī and Ghādah Muhammad al-Sharīf, Al-Misrī al-Yawm, Dec. 29, p. 3] Read the original text in Arabic
Meanwhile, the Maspero Youth Union and a number of Coptic coalitions and unions threatened to organize demonstrations next week outside the ministries of education and higher education to object the announcement that examinations would start on January 8.
Majdī Sābir, the Maspero Youth Union's media spokesman, said that Copts should have an official holiday that is no less than three days so that they can celebrate their religious occasions like Muslims and Christians on 'Id al-Adhá and 'Id al-Fitr. [ Nivīn Ashraf and Muhammad 'Antar, Al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Dec. 29, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic
[Reviewer's Note: Egyptian Christians will celebrate the Eastern Coptic Christmas on January 7.]
Also, the Union called on all Egyptians to participate in a candlelight vigil next Sunday (January 1, 2012) at 05:00 p.m. off the Supreme Court building to mark the 1st anniversary of the martyrs of the Church of the January 1, 2011 Two Saints bombing attack that left dozens of Christians dead or wounded. [Muhammad Imām, Al-Jumhūrīyah, Dec. 29, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic
On the other hand, the Azhar's Academy of Islamic Research, in a session on December 28 under Grand Shaykh Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyīb, discussed a code of ethics for the mass media and satellite channels so that they would not insult divine religions.
The Academy also decided to present a memorandum to the minister of information against the "anti-Islam offences broadcasted by the Christian al-Karma TV, relaying its programs on the Egyptian satellite NileSat, in a way that could spark sectarian sentiments in Egypt". [Diyā' Abū al-Safā, Al-Akhbār, Dec. 29, P. 7] Read original text in Arabic
The Administrative Judiciary Court handed down a ruling canceling a decision by the Clerical Council divorcing an Orthodox Christian citizen and granting him a remarriage permit.
Evon Nabīl 'Azīz had filed a lawsuit before the court against Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III and the minister of justice requesting the abolition of the Clerical Council's decision to divorce her from her husband 'Ādil Fahīm and grant him a permit for remarriage.
'Azīz said in her lawsuit that the decision of divorce is not issued except for reasons of adultery, which, she said, does not apply to her case. [Karam Sāmī, Al-Akhbār, Dec. 29, p. 7] Read the original text in Arabic
