Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Once again heated arguments surface between young Christians and the Coptic Orthodox Church over the list of appointed figures in the post-revolution parliament after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Muslim Brotherhood were invited to attend the Coptic Christmas earlier this month, writes ‘Abd al-Wahāb Sha’bān in an opinion article in al-Wafd newspaper.

The five Copts appointed in parliament, all unknown names for the Coptic street and had no public political history, have sparked unease as accusing fingers were pointed at the pope’s secretariat for naming the five Copts.

Coptic activists said the papal see washed its hands of the selections, adding only SCAF had the final say in these appointments, which included Tāriq Makram Shākir, Suzy ‘Adlī Nāshid, Marian Malāk Kamāl, Hannā Girgis Greis and George Nājī Msihah.

Angry young Copts believe that the church leaders have passed the names of some tamed Copts for the People’s Assembly while senior intellectuals showed balanced positions by saying strong evidence are not available that the papal office was involved in offering those names to SCAF. [‘Abd al-Wahāb Sha’bān, al-Wafd, Jan. 26, p. 15] Read original text in Arabic

Bringing women and Copts in one category is strange, it seems. In fact, it is not: the vision for both groups and the shortcoming as far as they are concerned is the same; dividing the society into minority and majority according to sects – Muslims and Copts – or into gender – men and women. [Hassan Hanafī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 26, p. 17] Read original text in Arabic

Thousands in Shubrā went on a march to al-Tahrīr Square, demanding an end to military rule, stressing national unity and completing the goals of the revolution. [Rānyā Rabī’ and Muhammad ‘Antar, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 26, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic