Date of source: Wednesday, September 15, 2004
The Azhar overstepped its judicial mission as stipulated by the 1961 law, namely "protecting the Holy Qur'an and Prophetic hadiths from corruption." The Azhar claimed guardianship over religious thoughts, arts and literature, which contradicts with the constitution, the law and principles of...
Date of source: Monday, June 28, 2004
Journalists have called
upon the government and the People’s Assembly to move forward in endorsing the legislative
reforms necessary to make President Mubarak fulfill his promise to cancel prison sentences for
publication crimes. They warned that attempting to not fulfill the president’s promise...
Date of source: Sunday, September 26, 2004
The Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Muhammad Mahdi Akef, strongly
criticized the congress of the ruling National Democratic Party which concluded its activities
last Thursday. Akef said that the reforms announced by the party do not achieve any real
development. Akef said that...
Date of source: Monday, September 27, 2004
A conference on the freedom of expression was lately held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in
cooperation with both the Reform Forum, affiliated with the Bibliotheca, and representatives of
freedom of expression from Norway.
The conference reviewed Arab and Norwegian reports about
the statuses of...
Date of source: Saturday, June 19, 2004
In this interview Nawal Al-Sa’adawi answers many questions about the attacks on her and the supervision of the Azhar over artistic works.
- See art. 40: A debate on the controversial role of religious institution in supervision artistic material
Date of source: Friday, September 24, 2004
The annual report issued by US State Department has criticized
religious freedom in Egypt. The report accused Egypt of religious discrimination against Baha’is
and Copts concerning recruitment in the public sector and preventing Christians from joining the
Azhar University. Many Islamic scholars...
Date of source:
The Council of Scientific Research at the Azhar University recommended a few
days ago that Nawal Al-Sa’adawi’s novel “Soqout Al-Imam” [The Fall of the Imam] be banned after
being released in Cairo seventeen years ago. The imam [in the novel] served as the central
symbol representing patriarchal...
Date of source: Friday, October 1, 2004
Holding the conference on freedom of expression at the same time of the second annual
conference of the National Democratic Party is a mere coincidence. The difference between the
official view of reformation and what the Arab intellectuals aim at, is clear. Each view seems as
if it is related...
Date of source: Sunday, October 3, 2004
Generally, non-Muslims living on Arab Muslim lands are radically denied the dignity of
the citizen. They are excluded from the process of decision making at all levels. Their rights
are denied, or at least severely restricted, in occupying positions of senior (’sovereign’)
ministries or prime-...
Date of source: Monday, June 21, 2004
Egypt’s long history is full of incidents of stifling the freedom to think, to choose,
and to be different. Stifling freedom of expression is justified by religion, morals, or the
public good. These are all masks for political interests and short-term gains. We live in a tribe
controlled by one...