Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

“The draft contains a very important amendment which would allow the election of the Grand Shaykh out of three candidates through secret balloting by top scholars,” said Abū al-Najā in a press conference after a cabinet meeting held under Prime Minister Kamāl al-Janzūrī. [Mansūr Kāmil, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 19, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic

Meanwhile, nine rights advocacy organizations considered the re-forwarding of a draft on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by Abū al-Najā, “one of the figures of the former regime,” as more despotic than the current law and lending more control by the National Security Agency over activities of the civil society in Egypt in a more cruel way.

The organizations, in a statement, rejected that the ministry of solidarity and the National Security Agency should have any control over NGOs’ activities, adding the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has to rein in “the pro-Mubārak officials” otherwise showdown would grow more tense between SCAF and political parties and movements, including the civil society.

They also asserted that they would not accept but a democratic law allowing free civil action under rules of transparency. [Muhammad Hijāb, al-Ahrām, Jan. 19, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic

Furthermore, Dr. Muhammad Badī’, the Muslim Brotherhood Murshid (Guide), called on the new People’s Assembly to debate the issues foreign loans and assistance to Egypt.

“The assistance must be channeled through legitimate courses with the knowledge of the Egyptian government without any conditions,” said Badī’ during a meeting with U.S. ambassador in Cairo Ann Patterson.

For her part, Patterson admitted some mistakes committed by U.S. administrations but called for overcoming them and avoiding to do them again in the future.

She noted that economic conditions in Egypt are tough, adding that Egypt needs loans from the World Bank so that these loans may contribute to improving the economy. [Hānī ‘Izzat, al-Ahrām, Jan. 19, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic