Zakī, married to an American with all her four kids carrying U.S. passports, believes that the Cairo Evangelical seminary has taken a historic decision that set right wrongs that lingered for a long time, adding the Egyptian society is heading toward democracy with steady steps.
"God Has called me and I answered Him. There is nothing in Christianity that would prevent a woman from becoming a priest," said Zakī, noting that her husband believes in God's call on her and helps her much.
She said that Jesus Christ treated women as human beings on equal footing with men. "Jesus was a pioneer of enlightenment." [Mīrā Mamdūh, Rose al-Yūsuf magazine, Jan. 28, pp. 58-59] Read original text in Arabic
Meanwhile, Father Sharīf Nāshif, the assisting priest at the Saint Kyrillos for Roman Catholics, left for northern Sudan to lead the Christmas Mass at the Lady of Annunciation Church in Khartoum.
In an interview with Rose al-Yūsuf magazine, he said that the Christians of northern Sudan refuse to immigrate to the south, adding the separation of south Sudan was purely political act. [Robeir al-Fāris, Rose al-Yūsuf magazine, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, p. 26] Read original article in Arabic
Field Marshal Muhammad Husayn Tantāwī, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), gave instructions to appoint 10 new deputies in parliament.
Marian Malāk, a 27-year-old woman, who carries a university degree in law, English language, the youngest member of parliament, said she has not participated in any political activities before but would focus her priorities on enhancing citizenship and fighting discrimination. [Aghārīd Mustafá, Rose al-Yūsuf magazine, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, pp. 16-17] Read original text in Arabic
On the other hand, security agencies arrested on Friday (Jan. 27) the perpetrators of the Naja' Hammādī crime, in which five persons killed Copt Mu'awad As'ad, a cement trader, and his son As'ad.
The prime suspect is 'Ādil Muhammad Jamāl, an upholsterer, who was aided and abetted by four others from the village of Abū Hizām.
A security source told al-Ahrām that the crime mainly targeted the kidnapping of As'ad's son and later asking for a ransom of LE500,000 (roughly $90,000) in return for his release but things turned bloody when the father resisted them.
Hundreds of Muslims and Copts in Naja' Hammādī gathered in front of the Virgin Mary Church to attend the funeral of the two victims before they were laid to their final rest. [Usāmah al-Hawwārī, al-Ahrām, Jan. 28, p. 20] Read original text in Arabic
[Reviewer's Note: A report of the same content was mentioned in Watanī newspaper, p. 1, Jan. 29] The article has no link online
Mu'taz Muhammad, a member of the People's Assembly and leader of the Freedom Party, proposed a fact-finding commission to investigate the incidents of the Two Saints Church in Alexandria in an attempt to detect the perpetrators of the January 1, 2011 deadly blasts that left dozens of Copts killed or wounded. [Author Not Mentioned, Akhbār al-Yawm, Jan. 28, p. 11] Read original text in Arabic
The enactment of the law on the Azhar, known in the media as the Azhar independence law, was severely criticized as it was approved and published in the official gazette a few days before the People's Assembly session.
'Abd al-Ghanī Hindī, the leader of the people's movement for the independence of the Azhar, said the People's Assembly has the right to review all the laws and legislations issued by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) since it led the country and until it handed the legislative power over to parliament. [Khālid Mūsá, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 28, p. 7] Read original text in Arabic
Khayrat al-Shātir, the deputy murshid (guide) of the Muslim Brotherhood group, said that SCAF's passing of the Azhar law is a "grave mistake" and "flagrant assault on the parliament." [Ahmad Fathī, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 28, p. 7] Read original text in Arabic
In the coast city of Suez, mass marches were out on the street on Friday took to the streets from mosques and churches, in a token of national unity, chanting slogans against SCAF and urging Field Marshal Tantawi to step down and the army to return to their barracks. ['Amr Ghnimah, al-Ahrām, Jan. 28, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic
