Date of source: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Doctor Najīb Jubrā’īl, head of the Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organization, has requested a meeting with Pope Tawadros to reform the Clerical Council. Jubrā’īl has requested that more civilians, such as lawyers, psychologists, and social workers, participate in the Council. In addition, he...
Date of source: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Unknown assailants set fire to a church in Nigeria, damaging the building and its contents. The recently-built church is the subject of some local controversy over the ownership of the land the church is built on (Author not mentioned, al-Yawm al-Sāb’, Feb. 28, p. 2). Read original text in Arabic.
Date of source: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Four Copts and one Muslim were murdered in Burj al-‘Arab area in what appears to be a crime motivated by personal rather than religious reasons. The five victims were farm workers, who had apparently insulted, abused, and expelled from the farm a newly hired farm worker, Taha Mūsá. Mūsá has since...
Date of source: Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Administrative Court at the Council of State has repealed a Mubārak-era law relating to church building. Law number 291 from 2005 gave governors the authority to issue licenses to Christian religious communities regarding the building, expansion, refurbishment, or demolition of existing...
Date of source: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Abū Maqār Church (Saint Macarius Church) in Shubrā al-Khaymah witnessed a new crisis between Copts and Salafists opposed to the construction of a service or ceremonial building, affiliated with the church. Salafist groups have attacked the church and blocked construction workers. A representative...
Date of source: Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Najīb Jubrā’īl, head of the Egyptian Union for Human Rights, said that the five Coptic detainees are: ‘Izat Hakīm, ‘Isá Ibrāhīm, ‘Adil Shākir, Shirīf Ramsīs, and ‘Imād Sidīq. He added that the detainees are being tortured by the Libyan Preventive Security Unit and have to be released immediately. ...
Date of source: Monday, February 25, 2013
The Azhar objected to Iran’s release of a film portraying the Prophet Muhammad, stressing that portraying Allah’s Prophets is unlawful. Shaykh ‘Alī ‘Abd al-Bāqī, Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy, said that religious scholars in Iran need to strictly cease the release of this film...
Date of source: Monday, February 25, 2013
The author of this piece speculates about what he believes to be the true causes for Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, and ventures that he might be more influential than the ideas of Martin Luther, the 16th century Christian reformer. The author compares the health of the outgoing Pope to previous...
Date of source: Monday, February 25, 2013
A well-attended festival of love was held in Luxor to send a message of peace to the world and to emphasize the safety and security of the city with the intention of increasing the level of tourism, the main sector of the local economy. It was organized by Sawa Association for cultural development...
Date of source: Monday, February 25, 2013
Shaykh Abū Islām has attempted to distance himself from his inflammatory comments about Coptic women. However, the prosecution sent the CDs, provided by Najīb Jubrā’īl, the lawyer, that prove Abū Islām's incitement of a fitnah and disturbance of national unity, to be transcribed by the Ministry of...