Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

"I don't like the word 'implementation'. It sounds like as if we're going to bring back to Egypt the Islam it had lost. Egyptians – Muslims and Christians alike – have religiosity in nature, but there is some imbalance we have to mend," said Abū al-Futūh in statements during a symposium with al-Misrī al-Yawm journalists.

He said that the category most assured about his ideologies, practices and programs are Christians. "I strongly believe in citizenship. Each citizen – Muslim or Christian – must get their rights and do their duties. In the past, Christians were wronged, just like the Muslim Brotherhood were wronged."

"All forms of discrimination, not just religious discrimination, must be ended and citizenship must turn into concrete reality," said Abū al-Futūh. ['Ādil al-Darajlī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 22, p. 14] Read original text in Arabic

Results announced by Egypt's High Judicial Elections Commission (HJEC) showed that six Christians and six women won seats in the recent parliamentary elections. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Akhbār, Jan. 22, p. 5] Read original text in Arabic

Field Marshal Muhammad Husayn Tantāwī, Commander-in-Chief and Chairman of the ruling caretaker Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), issued a decision on Saturday (Jan. 21) appointing ten People's Assembly members, which is starting its maiden session on Monday (Jan. 23).

The list includes five Copts, including an expatriate Coptic figure, Tāriq Shākir, Chairman of the Egyptian-American Friendship Association, and 'Abd Allāh Jahāmah, a representative of the nomads of Sinai. [Dālyā 'Uthmān, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 22, p. 1] Read original article in Arabic

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed during a phone call on Friday (January 20) with Field Marshal Tantāwī over the crackdown launched by the government in Egypt on the civil society organizations, underlining the importance of the role played by NGOs.

Obama reiterated support of the United States for Egypt's transition to democracy as the two sides agreed on continued contacts during the next few months. [Fātimah Zaydan and Sūzān 'Ātif, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 23, p. 1] Read original text in Arabic

Leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party held a meeting with a delegation of church clergymen upon an invitation by the FJP to study problems and work on reaching solutions to them.

The Coptic delegation comprised Bishop Estephanus of the Virgin Mary Church, Dr. Kamāl Salīb, Dr. Tāriq Safwat, priests and young men. [Hamdī 'Alī, al-Akhbār, Jan. 22, p. 6] Read original text in Arabic

Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III is delivering his weekly sermon on Wednesday (January 25) through videoconference for the first time from Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. state of Ohio, where he is on a treatment trip. [Ashraf Sādiq, al-Ahrām, Jan. 22, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic