Member of parliament ‘Alā’Hassānayn and Coptic businessman ‘Īd Labīb flew to the U.S. to meet Pope Shenouda in an attempt to increase the efforts to achieve a resolution on the issue of Abū Fānā. All parties seem to be willing to work toward an end of the conflicts and Copts expatriates are blamed for defaming Egypt’s image in the international community.

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Abū Fānā is still in the spotlight of the Egyptian media. The communications made between Pope Shenouda III who is in the U.S for a medical treatment and some religious and civil superiors in Egypt are ongoing to achieve a solution of the continuing problem of the archaeological monastery of Abū Fānā. The monastery is embroiled in a conflict over land between the monks of the monastery and the neighboring tribal community that has developed into what is considered to be a sectarian conflict in which monks have been abducted and tortured.

Communications started between Pope Shenouda, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church and member of parliament ‘Alā’ Hassānayn, the Minia representative in the Egyptian parliament and secretary of the committee of religious issues there. Coptic businessman ‘Īd Labīb from the governorate of Minia is also involved in the communications. Labīb and Hassānayn visited Pope Shenouda in the U.S. in an attempt to achieve a resolution of the problem.

Al-Dustūr of July 29, 2008 published that Pope Shenouda denied having called for freezing relations with General Ahmad Diyā’ al-Dīn, governor of Minia. Pope Shenouda told Hassānayn that the problem must be solved within the framework of the law, that should be applied on everyone, including the monks.

Moreover, Pope Shenouda denounced any comportment that will shed a bad light on Egypt’s image in the international community. It is noteworthy that some Coptic expatriates in the West organized protest demonstrations calling for stopping what they called the killing of and discrimination against Copts in Egypt.

Sa‘īd Nāfi‘ and ‘Amr Bayyūmī of al-Misrī al-Yawm of July 29, 2008 reported Pope Shenouda’s assertion that the Abū Fānā problem should be solved within 15 days. They also reported that the pope stressed the necessity to hold a meeting between Bishop Demetrius and the governor of Minia to approximate their viewpoints.

On his part Bishop Demetrius called on Copts of Mallawī to take part in an exceptional fasting period, adding that intensive prayers and fasts are needed to achieve a solution to the Abū Fānā problem.

On the other hand, the committee formed to resolve the conflict over the land in Abū Fānā held a session with all the people involved in the conflict. Al-Jumhūrīyah of August 3, 2008 published that the meeting resulted in a primary agreement to determine the borders of lands in order to take the due legal procedures to determine the ownership of the land and establish the separation wall to prevent any possible future aggressions.

Moreover, al-Jumhūrīyah published that ‘Alā’ Hassānayn announced holding a meeting between all concerned parties on August 5, stressing that correspondences are ongoing with Pope Shenouda III through Bishop Yu’annis, the pope's secretary.

Al-Misrī al-Yawm of the same day reported that monks from Abū Fānā are renewing their ID cards to meet the possible demands of the legal procedures of settling the land ownership.

Al-Misrī al-Yawm also reported on Hassānayn’s declaration that the ‘urfī committee was about to achieve an agreement between the conflict’s parties.

On his part, Bishop Yu’annis of Mallawī asserted that the church is committed to the decisions of the supreme committee, the Constitution, the law and those of the ‘urfī committee.

In the same context al-Dustūr of July 28, 2008 reported Bishop Demetrius’ return from the U.S. and the serious efforts made by the church and official parties to resolve the problem at Abū Fānā.

However, while Rose al-Yūsuf of July 28, 2008 reported the warnings of the Bedouins’ lawyer and his urging of the concerned governmental institutions to resolve the problem of land ownership, al-Ahrām of August 2, 2008 reported on the Bedouins’ and the monks’ readiness to apply the law and resolve the problem.

However, al-Usbū‘ of August 2, 2008 published that Minia governorate is one of Egypt’s biggest governorates. It also has the largest harvest of many crops in Egypt including wheat. However, al-Usbū‘ published that Minia has become number one on the list of governorates where state property is violated. 24 different areas of state property have been violated and most of the charged are businessmen, officers, councilors and at many times religious institutions.

The Egyptian press severely criticized the stance of the Coptic expatriates toward the issue of Abū Fānā. An array of critical articles were published in the media against the demonstrations and protests staged in the U.S and different Western countries.

The media also reported news about the health condition of Pope Shenouda and the expected date of his return to Egypt.

Al-Misrī al-Yawm of August 2, 2008 headlined: 'the church achieves an accord to stop Coptic expatriates’ demonstrations.'

Moreover, al-Ahrār published four full-page articles over four days under the headline: 'Expatriate Copts; prodigal voices.' The articles criticized the behavior of Coptic expatriates, especially their technique of trying to make the international community put pressure on Egypt. Al-Ahrār also accused them of defaming Egypt by spreading allegations and rumors about Copts being abused and tortured in Egypt.