Egyptian Coptic Youth Protect Cathedral During Pope's Sermon
(AINA) -- Egyptian police and armed forces were heavily deployed around St, Mark's Cathedral in Cairo yesterday as Coptic Pope Shenouda III delivered his weekly sermon to nearly 10,000 church members. The sermon was also attended by the media and Muslim journalists to show their opposition to the Salafis and the actions against the church. A large number of veiled Muslim women were also in attendance.
Religious freedom report criticizes Egypt and Obama
WASHINGTON — Egypt has been added to a list of the world's most severe violators of religious rights. The list was released today in the 12th Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)/, an independent and bipartisan group that advises the State Department on religious liberty worldwide.
The 380-page report also criticized the Obama administration for not taking action on previous recommendations to add offending countries to its list of "Countries of Particular Concern" or CPCs.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
President Barack Obama gestures while speaking to reporters about the controversy over his birth certificate and true nationality, Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at the White House in Washington.
According to the commission, CPCs are governments that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom that are "systematic, ongoing, and egregious including acts such as torture, prolonged detention without charges, disappearances, or other flagrant denials of rights."
"CPCs are nations whose conduct marks them as the world's worst religious freedom violators and human rights abusers," said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair, in an email. "In the case of Egypt, instances of severe religious freedom violations engaged in or tolerated by the government have increased dramatically since the release of last year's report, with violence, including murder, escalating against Coptic Christians and other religious minorities. Since President Mubarak's resignation from office in February, such violence continues unabated without the government's bringing the perpetrators to justice."
Coptic Christians in Egypt Rally for Secular Constitution, Civil Rights
(AINA) -- Nearly 100,000 Christian Copts staged a rally today in Egypt. The rally began with a 5 mile march from the Coptic Shubra district to Tahrir Square. Many Muslims joined the march, as well prominent Coptic activists and heads of Coptic human rights organizations.
Egyptian military warns troops not to join Friday protest
By Ivan Watson and Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, CNN
An Egyptian demonstrator shouts slogans during
protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square on April 1.
Egyptian military apparently issues warning in response to internet videos
A video was posted by a man who says he was an air force officer
He calls on fellow soldiers and officers to join a demonstration on Friday
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egypt's ruling military council issued a stern warning Thursday, threatening immediate prosecution before a military tribunal for any troops seen participating in a planned protest in Cairo on Friday.
Anger over court’s decision to acquit suspects in Coptic killing case
by Brian Hutt:
Egyptian Coptic Christians light candles during morning mass inside the Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday, January 2, 2011. The church suffered a deadly bomb attack on New Year's Day AP
Six Christians were killed in January 2010 as they left their church in Nag Hammadi after celebrating Christmas Eve mass. The church’s Muslim security guard was also killed in the attack.
قامت الجمعية الوطنية للتغيير بالإسكندرية بربط علم مصر بين كنيسة القديسين و المسجد المقابل فى إحتفالية ضمت كل طوائف الشعب المصرى فى الإسكندرية. و ذلك رداً على الجريمة التى قام بها بلطجية الحزب الوطنى بقتل قس بصعيد مصر لضرب ما تم إنجازه بعد الثورة الشعبية المصرية. و أبلغ دليل على إن الحزب الوطنى المهزوم هو من قام بها, هى إنه و خلال الفترة من 26 يناير حتى 11 فبراير لم يكن هناك أمن فى الشارع المصرى و لم ترتكب جريمة واحدة تحت مسمى طائفية. و الدليل الآخر هو إن الفاعل لم يترك دليلاً من بصماته على الخزينة بل وجدت مادة مطهرة أزالت البصمات من على كل الأماكن بعد إرتكاب جريمته النكراء.
* Statement does not take into account recent upheaval
BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The European Union denounced attacks against Christians and Muslims on Monday, having previously failed to agree a statement that included Christianity among persecuted religious faiths.
The EU began a debate about religious violence after an attack on a Coptic Christian church in northern Egypt at the end of December left 23 people dead and dozens wounded.
* Biggest gathering yet in movement that began on January 25
* Egyptian president issues decree forming committee to oversee constitutional changes ahead of elections later this year
CAIRO: Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square and towns across Egypt on Tuesday as the nation’s embattled President Hosni Mubarak took a step towards democratic reform in another bid to appease opponents.
In Cairo, the immense crowd hailed as a hero a charismatic cyberactivist and Google executive whose Facebook site helped kickstart the protest movement on January 25 and who has since been detained and held blindfolded for 12 days.
Egypt: Internet down, police counterterror unit up
AP – General view showing Egyptians protestors clash with anti-riot policemen in Suez, Egypt, Thursday, Jan.27,
By HAMZA HENDAWI and SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press – 29 mins ago
CAIRO – Internet service in Egypt was disrupted and the government deployed an elite special operations force in Cairo on Friday, hours before an anticipated new wave of anti-government protests.
The developments were a sign that President Hosni Mubarak's regime was toughening its crackdown following the biggest protests in years against his nearly 30-year rule.
Pro-democracy advocate returns; Mubarak's party dismissive of protesters: "The minority does not force its will on the majority."
CAIRO — Egypt's ruling party said Thursday it was ready for a dialogue with the public but offered no concessions to address demands for a solution to rampant poverty and political change heard in the country's largest anti-government protests in years.
At the same time, the grass roots protest movement was getting a double boost likely to energize the largest anti-government demonstrations Egypt has seen in years. Mohammed ElBaradei, a Nobel peace laureate and the country's top pro-democracy advocate, was returning to the country Thursday night and declared he was ready to lead the protests. The country's largest opposition group — the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood — also threw its support behind the demonstrations.
10,000's of Egyptians Revolt Against Mubarak Regime: 3 DEAD
Assad Elepty
Tens of thousands of Protesters have taken to the streets of Egypt in an unprecedented act of defiance and people power.
The protestors in Cairo have broke through police ranks and headed towards the Nile. Some protestors were beaten by police but the demonstrators remained defiant chanting at the police, most of whom are from very poor neighborhoods, to join them. One un-named police officer revealed, “we have been prepped and warned we will be charged with treason and taken before the security court if we join the protestors” he added, “I want to stand with my countrymen, but what will happen to me, my wife and five children, we will be killed”.
The sole aim of the protest is to bring down the Mubarak regime. Official reports are 3 people have died including 1 policeman. Unconfirmed reports from sources state 9 people have died. One eyewitness, on video alleged 6000 people have been arrested. The demonstrations continued well into the night. Egypt’s Parliament, high Court and interior ministry were heavily fortified and barricaded to prevent the protestors reaching them.
Egypt Islamic authority freezes dialogue with Vatican
The highest Islamic authority in Egypt, al-Azhar, is to suspend all dialogue with the Vatican.
by Rachel Ford, Christian PostPosted: Friday, January 21, 2011, 7:06 (GMT)
Pope Benedict has condemned the persecution of Christians around the world AP
The move is in response to the Pope’s condemnation of widespread violence and discrimination against Christian minorities in predominately Muslim countries.
Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, the president of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, met with members of the Islamic Research Academy before making the announcement Thursday morning. The group accused Pope Benedict of “repeatedly addressing Islam negatively, more than once", reported Islamic news website Ahram Online.
Baroness Ashton, EU foreign policy chief (Photo: PA)
The European Parliament has urged governments to do more to protect Christians from persecution.
It said in a resolution addressed to EU institutions: “In some cases, the situation facing Christian communities is such as to endanger their future existence – if they were to disappear, this would entail the loss of a significant part of the religious heritage of the countries concerned.
Assault of a police officer will be added to the list of charges facing eight protesters who demonstrated earlier this month in solidarity with Christian Copts, a judicial source told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Thursday.
An Egyptian Coptic Christian priest prays over the coffin of Fathi Ghatas during his funeral at the Mar Yohan church in Cairo. Ghatas was shot by a 23-year-old off-duty policeman who boarded a train near the southern town of Samalut and opened fire on passengers, killing a 71-year-old Coptic man and wounding his wife and four other Copts on January 11.
Angry mourners gathered on Wednesday for the funeral of an Egyptian Christian gunned down in an attack that threatened to exacerbate sectarian tensions, just days after a deadly church bombing in Alexandria.
Angry mourners gathered on Wednesday for the funeral of an Egyptian Christian gunned down in an attack that threatened to exacerbate sectarian tensions, just days after a deadly church bombing in Alexandria.
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday voiced solidarity with Egypt's Coptic Christians two days after they marked a sombre Christmas following a deadly New Year's Day church bombing.
"I salute the Coptic faithful present here to whom I renew my expression of closeness," he told thousands of people gathered on Saint Peter's Square during Sunday Mass.
HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama has condemned deadly New Year’s Eve attacks in Egypt and Nigeria.
In a statement, Obama says the perpetrators of an attack on an Egyptian church have no respect for human life or dignity. He says those responsible for the bomb that killed at least 21 people must be brought to justice for “this barbaric and heinous act.” The bombing enraged Christians in Egypt who often complain of discrimination at the hands of Egypt’s Muslim majority.
In a statement, Obama says the perpetrators of an attack on an Egyptian church have no respect for human life or dignity. He says those responsible for the bomb that killed at least 21 people must be brought to justice for “this barbaric and heinous act.” The bombing enraged Christians in Egypt who often complain of discrimination at the hands of Egypt’s Muslim majority.
Obama also says a separate attack near an army barracks in Abuja, Nigeria demonstrates the “bankrupt vision” of those who carry out the attacks. At least four people were killed and 21 wounded while celebrating the new year.
Obama says the U.S. will offer any necessary assistance to Egypt and Nigeria.
(Sarkozy) Attack in Egypt: "an indiscriminate and cowardly crime"
By Abdel Fattah Hussein
President Nicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy on Saturday denounced a "blind and cowardly crime" and expressed "great emotion" in a letter to his Egyptian counterpart, Hosni MubarakHosni Mubarak, following the attack that killed 21 people at a Coptic church Alexandria (north).
(AINA) -- Egyptian police and armed forces were heavily deployed around St, Mark's Cathedral in Cairo yesterday as Coptic Pope Shenouda III delivered his weekly sermon to nearly 10,000 church members. The sermon was also attended by the media and Muslim journalists to show their opposition to the Salafis and the actions against the church. A large number of veiled Muslim women were also in attendance.
An Egyptian Coptic Christian priest prays over the coffin of Fathi Ghatas during his funeral at the Mar Yohan church in Cairo. Ghatas was shot by a 23-year-old off-duty policeman who boarded a train near the southern town of Samalut and opened fire on passengers, killing a 71-year-old Coptic man and wounding his wife and four other Copts on January 11.
