What is going on in Egypt would be enhancing democracy, human rights and freedom, Carter said in statements to CNN, adding Egypt has a chance to form a democratic government chosen by the people. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Ahrām, Jan. 20, p. 7] Read original text in Arabic
A large number of activists and representatives of political movements on Thursday (January 19), started a march demanding the release of blogger Michael Nabīl, chanting slogans rejecting that civilians be brought before military courts.
Nabīl's father, who participated in the march that started from al-Tahrīr Square and ended in front of the Supreme Court, said that his son's health condition is very serious due to his high blood pressure.
He said that Nabīl had gone on a hunger strike two times in protest against mistreatment.
Nabīl was jailed last year for insulting Egypt's armed forces. An initial three-year sentence was reduced on appeal in December 2011 to two years. His arrest in March and sentencing sparked outrage abroad. [Ahmad al-Misrī, al-Ahrām, Jan. 20, p. 26] Read Original Text in Arabic .
Meanwhile, the ministry of finance on Thursday (January 19) started releasing compensations for the families of martyrs of the incidents and clashes that took place in the areas of Maspero, Muhammad Mahmūd street and the surroundings of the cabinet office and the People's Assembly headquarters during the past few months.
"Each family will get LE30,000 (roughly $5,000), in addition to exceptional pension for the families of martyrs," said Ayman Juhar, director of the minister's office, told al-Misrī al-Yawm newspaper.
Minister of Planning & International Cooperation Fāyzah Abū al-Najā, in a press conference after a cabinet's economic group meeting, said that the dues of 85 martyrs of the Maspero and Muhammad Mahmūd areas will be released next week. [Mansūr Kāmil, Muhsin 'Abd al-Rāziq and Sūzān 'Ātif, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 20, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic
On the other hand, Muhammad al-Dimirdāsh, a legal advisor for the minister of insurances and social affairs, said that the draft law on NGOs was the outcome of the work of a committee that comprised several people working the civil society field.
During a first workshop to discuss the draft, Dimirdāsh said that there has to be dialogue in future sessions to which everyone is invited in order to reach societal accordance over the draft. ['Alyā' Hāmid and Yāsmīn Salīm, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 20, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic
In the governorate of al-Qalyubia, 30 kilometers north of Cairo, the district of Shubrā al-Khaymah was the scene of sit-in strikes and road blocking upon rumors some building in the area will be turned into a church.
More than 300 Salafists in the neighborhood of Ibn al-Hakam stormed their way into a building after its owner has reportedly ceded it to the Shubrā al-Khaymah patriarchy in order to turn it into a church. [Ahmad 'Abd al-Karīm, al-Akhbār, Jan. 20, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic
Writer Jamāl al-Bannā demanded the abolition of Article 2 of the Egyptian constitution that spells out Islam as the official religion of the state and that the sharī'ah is the main source of legislation, adding "there is absolutely no need for it."
By removing Article 2, citizenship will become a natural, original thing away from any ideologies, said Bannā, noting Islamists, through imposing Article 2, only want to play heroes in the eyes of the Egyptian public. [Husayn al-Barbarī, al-Misryūn, Jan. 20, p. 5] Read Original Text in Arabic
Is the church trying to impose its influence on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and play a role that is against the steps on the road to democracy in Egypt and the formation of the first parliament after the revolution? wonders Mulhim al-'Isawī in an opinion article in al-Rahmāh newspaper.
The question remains in light of reports amidst political circles that Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III that the 10 persons to be appointed as members of parliament would be exclusively Copts.
(Pope) Shenouda is apparently trying to break an important political and constitutional question; the appointment of 10 persons for parliament is the exclusive right of SCAF and more than that the constitution has not determined whether those 10 should be Copts, Muslim Brotherhood members or Salafists. [Milhim al-'Isawī, al-Rahmah, Jan. 20, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic
