✂
Watani Francophone Sunday
20 August 2006
Editor-in-chief Managing Editor 14 Misra 1722
Youssef Sidhom Samia Sidhom 26 Ragab 1427
YEAR 6
ISSUE 288
Page 5 - 6
Editorial
Setback Return of the Life and death
Youssef Sidhom
Last week’s editorial tackled the draft unified law for
places of worship, lately drawn by the National Council
for Human Rights (NCHR). I questioned the relevance
displaced in Beirut
of drafting such a law despite the fact that another draft
law on the same issue, submitted to Parliament in May The room was too big for five persons. Where in John Ehab and Alexander Gramsch report from Beirut Before the war between Israel and Lebanon
2005 and approved by its proposals committee, is pend- normal times dozens of students of the Armenian started, Martyr Square in Beirut was a gray, peb-
ing discussion in the upcoming parliamentary round next School in Beirut study for their examinations, bled ground, open area. With neither coffee shops
autumn. Actually, I found in the NCHR-sponsored draft, Manif Nagdi’s family found shelter from the war. The few remnants of the family’s nor restaurants around, only few people passed by and the square was mainly used
which stipulated the approval of security authorities and belonging lay about the room; clothes hung on the blackboard to dry and children’s for such big events as concerts or demonstrations.
stressed governors’ control over the building and res- paraphernalia littered the students’ desks. Today Martyr Square has become the site
toration of places of worship an alarming setback. of a peaceful protest against a war that was
I believe the NCHR’s persistence to go ahead with its Escape deemed unjust by most Lebanese. Pro-
draft law implies a betrayal of the human rights and free- Manif Nagdi, father of five, had come to fessional and amateur artists found forms
Beirut from his village in the south of of expressions for feelings difficult to put in
doms guaranteed by the Constitution, in favour of de- words. "Our people were killed by the Isra-
fending State authorities’ prerogatives. This is especially Lebanon. Some of his neighbors had been
seriously injured by Israeli missiles. elis," says Hussein Hashem, one of the per-
self-evident in light of the fact that the proposals com- sons in charge for the new design of the
mittee’s approval of the draft law currently pending dis- "Thank God we are safe. May Allah
prosper the resistance and keep Sayed square. "Our pain shall show in art."
cussion included the phrase: "The law is consistent with
the Constitution and does not contradict the social, polit- Hassan [Nasrallah] alive and on top",
ical or economic systems, nor society’s religious and Manif said, forming a victory sign with Shadow of the cross
ethical norms". The need for an alternative law that adds his right hand. His seven-year-old son A painting by Hassan Yateem depicts a
nothing but extra security and governorial intervention, said his bicycle and scooter had to be left large cross throwing a dark shadow. On the
and cannot be more in harmony with the Constitution at home. And his older brother Ali added: cross there are pictures of the war victims.
and society’s values, thus begs an explanation. "When I grow up, I want to be a Mujahed But the shadow of the cross, Yateem says,
While they provided an initiative to thwart a balanced to liberate Shebaa". stands for resistance and anger.
draft law pending discussion in Parliament, did the gentle- Hussein Esseili came from Bent Jebeil, An unsigned painting shows a portrait of
men in the NCHR see themselves as defenders of Egyp- the village that gained notoriety because Machiavelli. Pale, with blood under his
tians’ rights and freedoms? Or as contributors in the foun- of the prolonged, heavy fighting between eyes, the political philosopher from Italy
dation of a civil state to the detriment of a police state? Or Israeli troops and Hizbullah. Esseili’s es- gazes at the onlookers out of a black back-
were they befuddled enough to consolidate the rights and cape had led him through the eastern drop. The smile on his face is frozen and in-
powers of the security apparatus through legislation? mountains, where he received help not different. It was he who said that the aim
Copts have long suffered from the security sway on only from Muslims, as he was careful to justifies the means. Fouad Shehab, another
building and restoring churches. Metaphorically, I used point out, but also from Christians and artist with works on display, comments:
to term the long, complicated procedures required to ob- Druzes. In his eyes, resistance against "Israel does whatever it takes, burning
tain official permits for such works the "Via Dolorosa". Israel to defend Lebanese and Arab entire towns and massacring civilians, to
dignity is an obligation and a must. reach its purpose."
More often than not, applications were met with official Donia, a young woman from the south,
procrastination and negligence before they were un- has collected from Beirut streets whatever
justifiably rejected. Small wonder then that Copts felt Salvation was not entirely destroyed by the bombs.
humiliated and denied the most basic of human rights. The Lebanese Red Cross was among the The material of her work are broken toys,
The May 2005 draft unified law for places of worship organisations taking care of those who had burnt books, ripped clothes and stones.
honours Copts’ citizenship rights and their equality with lost their homes, helping them not to lose
their brothers in the homeland, and is salvation from the hope as well. Refugees were provided with
Above: The displaced Whatever she found, Donia hung on nylon
strings fitted into a wooden construction in
unquestionable dominion of security apparatuses and top a room, food and medicine brought to Below: Art works in Martyrs’ Square in Beirut the form of a tunnel. At the beginning of the
officials, after the long-awaited need to "liberate the Beirut by UNICEF from as far away as tunnel there is a shooting
Coptic file from the security grip". In this light, the Baghdad. Ghaleb al-Ayoubi, spokesperson board with a hole in the
NCHR-sponsored draft law poses a serious paradox: of the Lebanese Red Cross in Beirut, said middle. At the end of the
instead of liberating churches from security grip, the law that some 4,000 volunteers work with the tunnel the arm of child’s
places mosques under this grip. So instead of imple- Red Cross, which uses 300 ambulance cars jacket swings in the wind.
menting equality in citizenship rights and freedoms, and three operating centres.
equality is implemented in imposed injustice and tyr- "Often displaced people have to stay Graveyard
anny. I do not expect our Muslim fellow-citizens to with poor relatives who are unable to of- The paintings and ins-
accept that; it is time to join forces and stand together to fer them food, medicine or other ne- tallations cover the western
defend freedom and citizenship rights where legislation cessities of daily life", said Riad al- side of the square. The
governing places of worship is concerned. Asmar, one of the founders of "Wehdetna eastern side, however, is cov-
The NCHR-sponsored draft law has found its way to Khalasna", literally "Our Unity is Our Sal- ered by concrete tiles. Each
Cabinet, a prelude to referral to Parliament. So Parlia- vation". The newly founded coalition of carries a candle, burning night
ment will see two conflicting proposals should the Cab- NGOs ran a hotline in Beirut, through after night. The number of
inet approve the NCHR-sponsored draft law. If priority which displaced people called for help, tiles resembles the number of
is for facilitated procedures, the balance will obviously whether material, medical, or to help deal persons killed in the war,
tilt towards the May 2005 proposal. But if the Cabinet with trauma. Among the volunteers for whose names are all written
sponsors the second draft law, it might gain advantage Wehdetna Khalasna were persons who on a central wooden board.
over the first. MPs should be aware of the disparity were themselves displaced. One such Salman Abbas, manager of
between the two proposals since the government’s draft volunteer was 16-year-old Nabih Ghan- the project, comments on the
law, if passed, will expand governorial and security dour who had lived in the southern village symbolic graveyard: "All
powers to cover mosques in addition to churches. of Nabateye before he had escaped to people participate in the
Among the oddest and most ironic arguments de- Beirut two weeks after the war began. suffering and agony. They see
fending security and governorial dominion over places While he chose to help his fellow-citizens, the dead and bring flowers."
of worship in the NCHR-sponsored draft law is the right some of his family, Ghandour says, pre- The graveyard, says Abbas, is
of applicants to contest the decisions of administrative ferred to stay in Nabateye to help the a symbol of the resistance of
and security bodies before the courts. What sense is armed resistance. It is not clear whether last the Lebanese civil society
there in this? Is contesting security and administrative week’s ceasefire will allow people like Nag- against the Israeli attacks.
dominion before courts more reasonable than avoiding it di or Esseily and their families to go home And the separation of the
altogether in the first place? And does the overloaded and settle down peacefully. In all cases, NGOs took care to insure that those who square in a coloured and a gray side, he adds, is for a reason: "On the West side, we
Egyptian judiciary need an extra unnecessary load? depended on relief for subsistence were not left to fight their war alone. show the life of the Lebanese people. And on the East side, we show their death."
Ah—that notorious religion box in Egyptian ID cards! This in- menting freedom of worship and passing adequate legislation to Violations
To
formation box has come under fire from liberals and citizenship govern the building and renovation of places of worship—are Relevant practices by interior ministry officials came under
rights activists, who strongly call for its deletion from official needed if we are serious about putting an end to discrimination. heavy criticism. Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian In-
papers. As the alleged mother of all inequality and discriminatory Dr Mustafa al-Fiqi, head of the committee of foreign affairs in itiative for Personal Rights said that it had registered 170 vi-
practices, its deletion would hopefully result in a marked re- the People’s Assembly and NCHR member, also called for de- olations during the last two years alone against the right of
duction in discrimination on basis of religion. Or would it? leting the religion box as only one among a package of reforms Egyptians to acquire correct official documents. Civil Register
The subject was the topic of heated debate in a recent work- aimed at ending religious-based discrimination in Egypt. "We staff, he said, refused to cite the correct religion of 100 Chris-
delete shop held by the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR).
Interestingly, or perhaps predictably, the workshop reached no
resolution on the topic, so a decision was taken to compile the
various viewpoints and present them to the parties concerned.
must admit that there are serious underlying problems in this re-
spect," Fiqi said. The matter can no longer be treated with tran-
quillisers, he said, or worse still, be altogether denied.
Marriage and divorce
tians who had converted to Islam then reconverted to Christian-
ity, 60 Christians who were cited as Muslims because one of
their parents had converted to Islam when they were under-age,
and an unknown number of Muslims who converted to Chris-
tianity. Some of these people obtained court rulings to have
or not
Other measures "No article in our Constitution stipulates a religion box in ID their ID data corrected, but the interior minister countered by
Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, head of the NCHR, opened the work- papers," Dr Mamdouh Nakhla, director of the Word Centre for contesting the rulings—meaning that this was an official min-
shop activities. He said the participants were there to debate the Human Rights, remarked. Rather, the Constitution stipulates istry stance, and not a mere violation committed by a clerk. Peo-
deletion of the religion box from ID cards, especially since the be- freedom of belief and worship, he said. ple who belong to non of the three religions—Baha’is for in-
lievers in the three religions cited in the cards—Judaism, Chris- Hafez Abu-Saeda, secretary-general of the Egyptian organ- stance—Bahgat remarked, have faced severe problems during
tianity, and Islam—represent no more than 50 per cent of the isation for human rights and NCHR member, rejected the proposal the past two years when it became an interior ministry policy to
to delete world population, and many other religions were much older than
the said three. The 160 participants included representatives from
five ministries and 57 NGOs, as well as intellectuals and clerics.
NCHR member Mona Zulfikar confirmed that the NCHR re-
ceives numerous complaints of practices which are the direct
outcome of citing religion in ID cards. Deleting the religion box,
to delete the religion box from ID cards, on the grounds that it
would solve no problems. One of the mainstays of human rights,
Abu-Saeda said, was freedom of belief which, he indicated, imp-
lied the freedom of individuals to cite their religion in official
papers. Totally in agreement, Ali Hammad, deputy to the minister
of legal affairs and legislative councils, said citing religion in ID
recognise only three religions.
Optional
Perhaps the most interesting—and controversial—suggestion
came from Mossaad Eweiss, head of the syndicate of sports
professions, who proposed that the deletion of the religion box
Hany Danial she said, is not a disregard of religion; on the contrary, it meant cards was absolutely necessary when it came to personal status in ID cards should be optional. Whoever wished to have his or
that religion was not to be used as a pretext for discrimination. affairs such as marriage, divorce or inheritance—issues on which her religion cited, or whoever wished it deleted, he explained,
However, Zulfikar stressed, other measures—such as imple- religions basically differed. should be granted their respective wishes.
For Lebanon water resources minister Dr Mahmoud Abu- onomic growth and privatisation programme. prepared in cooperation with the Multilateral New route
N The Lebanese embassy in Cairo is actively
raising funds for the aid of the Lebanese
Zeid announced that 27,000 feddans north of
the Sinai development project at al-Salam Russian space science
Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
affiliated to the World Bank, and will in-
Earlier this month, Kuwait Airways launched
its first direct flight between Kuwait and
E people who have been victims of more than a
month long of Israeli aggression. Popular
canal will be shortly put up for sale. The coming scholastic year should witness
the beginning of operation of the first Russian
clude political, economic and demographic
systems, as well as information on wages,
Assiut in Upper Egypt. The new route should
facilitate the movement of some half a million
legislation, and human resources.
W Lebanese video-clip starlet Haifaa’ Wahbi is in
Cairo to help with the fundraising, and the em-
Memos
Egypt and Italy have signed a memorandum
university of Egypt. The Russians will offer
Egyptian students an opportunity to venture
Upper Egyptians working in Kuwait, and will
aid badly-needed foreign investment in Assiut
bassy has opened an account no 156156002 into the study of specialised space sciences Badly needed and Upper Egypt as a whole.
S with Banque Misr for that purpose.
of understanding on cooperation in the voca-
tional education sphere. Under the memo, the
two sides will exchange expertise and in-
and nuclear science, as well as studies in
sustainable and renewable energy. The de-
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Trans-
port Minister Mohamed Lotfi Mansour last Decorated by the queen
L Japan buys land
A delegation of Japanese businessmen has
formation on recent IT developments, and will
cooperate in open and distant education
cision to establish a Russian university in
Egypt was taken within the talks held be-
Monday witnessed the signing ceremony of
a contract to establish first Egyptian-
In a recent Buckingham Palace ceremony,
Queen Elizabeth II honoured Egyptian-born
tween Presidents Mubarak and Putin last year.
I expressed to the government interest in buying
some 2,300 feddans of reclaimed agricultural
programmes. On another front, Egypt and
Libya have signed a memorandum on joint
Bahraini-Emirati holding company. The
six-billion dollar Capital Company will
businessman Assem Allam, who has been
living in the UK for 38 years, for dis-
land in different regions in Egypt. They hope technical cooperation in the stock market Investor database operate in the transportation domain, setting tinction and excellence in trade and in-
N this would be a first deal, with more to come.
The Japanese have also expressed willingness
domain under which Egyptian financial experts
will train staff of the Libyan stock market.
The General Authority for Investment and
Free Zones (GAFI) is preparing to issue the
up direly-needed metro lines to link new ur-
ban communities to main cities such as
dustry. The medal is awarded once every
three years to a distinguished personality in
E to set up a vegetable processing plant, the prod-
uct of which would be for export. Meanwhile,
With a capital of 20 million dinars, the
stock market aims at supporting Libya’s ec-
first integrated database on investment op-
portunities in Egypt. The database will be
Cairo. It will also set up service projects in
the industrial zones near Egyptian harbours.
the field of trade and industry, and this is
the first time it is awarded to an Egyptian.
Published by Watani Printing and Publishing Corporation 27, Abdel Khaleq Tharwat st. Cairo – Egypt Tel. 202-3927201, 202-3936051 Fax 202-3935946 Website: www.watani.com.eg E-Mail: watanie@watani.com.eg
✂
22.
2 Watani International 20 August 2006
The Coptophile Column The Age of Tolerance in Egypt:
By John H. Watson Has it Come and Gone?
It was more than a surprise - when
walking down Cap Sud near the great
Part 2 of 4: Grandeur of the Arab Empire:
city of Avignon in France - to discover
the Rue Athanase Kircher: Astronome
Its Tolerance and its Intolerance
a Avignon XVIIe Siécle. Perhaps it was did not have to fill the Treasury of the ported 4 million)
wise to take a photograph of the By Amin Makram Ebeid Caliphates of Medina, Damascus or Bibars (a Mamluk): 2 million
plaque, which announced the name of Baghdad any more, and could, in that Ottoman (at the time of the Napo-
this most famous Catholic priest and Most Arab people, whether Christians way, recycle it revenues in the Nile leonic invasion): 1.5 million
academic. or Muslims, are justifiably proud of Valley. As a result all Egyptians ben- Nonetheless, this steady de-
It is hardly surprising that the Jesuit the great Arab Civilization in which efited from the Tulunide and crease in revenues may reflect a de-
was described on the street sign as an their ancestors have participated and Ikhchidites take over. mographic erosion of the country with
astronomer. He was a polymath. In which they have inherited. Nonethe- As an illustration of that as- diminution of Jyzia paying dhimmis
fact he was portrayed as the ‘Master less, there is little doubt that the glory sertion, it is interesting to note that or a decrease production. It may there-
of a Hundred Arts.’ No doubt his love of the Arab Civilization came at a when Ibn Tulun imposed justice in the fore be argued that the use of such a
for astronomy was only one enthusi- rather heavy price, and the ones who collection of taxes the reassured peo- parameter does not accurately reflect
asm, bearing in mind the punishments were made to pay that price were the ple went back to work, and the Arab the wealth of a country. That is why
inflicted upon Galileo Galilei (1564- conquered people. chroniclers reported that the Treasury Tagher appropriately documented the
1642), a contemporary of Father It may help to recall that that collected only 800,000 dinars at real impoverishment of Egypt by
Athanasius Kircher. even though non- Muslims suffered the beginning of his reign collected looking at the drastic diminution of
Galileo was condemned by the the most in Egypt, 4,300,000 before his the arable land, which dropped from
Church for his scientific creed. He from the Arab con- death, and yet his per- 6 million feddans at the time of the
was imprisoned for some time, but quest, all Egyp- Like all empires, the
sonal fortune still in- conquest to 3 million during the
Kircher knew Galileo and also knew tians suffered price of grandeur is paid
creased to 10 million!6 Ummayad dynasty.16
how to be a little more cautious. varying degrees of for by the conquered Further im-
Kircher’s earliest years as a professor exploitation and people. provement of the iv. Welding of the sacred to the
of Mathematics and Physics in Rome impoverishment. Copts’ treatment oc- secular
coincided with the period of the in- curred during the Fatimid Caliphate In his teaching on the Prophet
carceration of Galileo. It would prob- 1. Exploitation of Egypt (969-1171). Muhamed, the eminent Islamic
ably be fair to say that Fr. Kircher was A point that is often forgot- Christian Cannuyer believes scholar Rafiq Zakaria, felt that the
a man sitting on the fence. He was a ten is that the exploitation of Egypt that the Shia princes were more toler- Prophet “did not divide life between
gifted medievalist but he was more for the benefit of Medina, and later ant than their Sunni counterparts, and God and Caesar,” and then added that
open to the new. It is most likely that for the other Caliphates, was a sig- being a minority themselves tended to “this is the basic difference in the ap-
he was privately opposed to the con- nificant factor that has rendered the lend support to other minorities. 7
demnation of Galileo. proaches of Muhamed and Christ.17 ”
country less prosperous. As a result Tagher, on the other hand, attributed On the other hand that interpretation
all Egyptians were made to suffer. But that tolerant trait of the Fatimids on of Mr. Zakaria has been countered by
The great Coptologist, Professor the Copts were made to suffer even their need to have some kind of sup- opinions of other great Muslim schol-
Aziz Atiya often spoke favourably of more because more and more was port in a country where they were ars and intellectuals who feel that Is-
the seventeenth century priest, and expected from them with the increas- themselves a minority amidst a Sunni lam does in fact allow for separation
Professor Martin Krause wrote a small ing needs of the Arab Empire, while majority. After all, at that time, it is of the sacred from the secular in the
but significant piece about Athanasius at the same time they were becoming estimated that the Copts constituted government of Islamic nations (see
Kircher (1602-80) for the Coptic En- less numerous and poorer. about 20% of the population.8 part III).
cyclopaedia (pp.1415-6). In Father The famous Catholic priest and academic Athanase Kircher (1602- To illustrate that form of ex- The best of the golden years
Kircher’s own words, “I was born at 80), whose book, Prodromus Coptus sive Aegyptiacus (Coptic or ploitation, the intentions of the con- of the Copts was experienced at the
three o’clock in the morning on the Egyptian Forerunner), was a best seller in seventeenth century Eu-
4. Conclusion
querors were made very clear when time of the Caliphate of Al Aziz bi Amr
second of May, the Feast of Saint From the viewpoint of this study on
rope. Kircher pointed out the value of studying Coptic to understand the Caliph Omar pressed Amr bin el Allah (976-996) who is remembered
Athanasius, in 1602.” His Christian tolerance the weight of history has
ancient Egyptian languages. As, the Governor of Egypt, to send for taking the initiative to build houses
name had to be that of the great fourth made it difficult for Egypt and other
the necessary wheat to Medina. “Per- of worship for the Christians, and who
century saint and bishop of Alexan- Arab countries to espouse the princi-
ish Egypt!” declared the Caliph, so accepted the prin-
dria, perhaps an anticipation of the was instructed and advised in this tually a best seller in seventeenth cen- 1 ples of tolerant liber-
long as we save Medina. Later on, ciple of equality
Coptic Studies that the Jesuit was to field by Peirsc, the Provençal anti- tury Europe. There was an enormous It is time to unload the alism. For it is obvi-
referring to the conquered people, the between Muslims
undertake in his thirties. quary. But it was Kircher who was to enthusiasm for Egyptian art and his- crushing weight of history. ous that a govern-
same Caliph declared: “The Muslims and Christians.
Kircher’s hometown was Geisa in produce the first major works in the tory and many wealthy and scholarly ment that is founded
will be nourished by the toil of the And yet he was a
Germany. He was educated in Jesuit field of Coptic Studies. From 1635 to people became enthusiastic collectors on the teaching of
conquered people throughout their powerful monarch who carried out
schools and later took his vows as a 1643 he worked as a professor in a of Coptic and Pharaonic antiquities. one religion will by that fact alone ex-
lives, and our sons will be nourished successful campaigns against the
member of the Society of Je- Even the seventeenth cen- clude from full citizenship all those
by their descendants”. Byzantines and was responsible for the who do not follow this specific reli-
sus at Paderborn in 1620. tury villain Cardinal A letter from Amr bin el As to maximal extension of his empire.9
Athanasius Kircher must be Richelieu asked the French gion.
the Caliph Omar can be used to fur- Space will not permit me to
regarded as an international ambassador in Egypt to col- Moreover, to refuse to sepa-
ther illustrate that phenomenon: go into greater details about the vicis- rate the religious from the secular will
representative of his Order lect anything from Ancient “I have received the letter situde of the Copts after the fall of the
but it is true that he suffered or Christian Egypt. The rape inevitably become a major road block
from the ‘Commander of the faithful’ Fatimid Caliphates, save to mention
a great deal because of the of Egypt’s riches is probably to any form of authentic democracy.
in which he accuses me of slowness that a sudden decline of the Coptic
extreme conflicts in the early a fair comment upon the Eu- For instance, for a healthy democracy
in sending the revenues, and in which situation occurred under the Mamluks,
seventeenth century. This ropean ignorance and arro- to survive and be functional it must
he alludes to the works of the Phar- resulting in a rapid decline of the
was a period of religious gance, which set out to cap- be prepared to accommodate to the
aohs who have preceded me, and ex- Coptic population which dropped
wars. ture anything Egyptian. ongoing changes of society, and to
press his astonishment at the diminu- from 20% under the more tolerant
In the Thirty Years War the It was only in 1822 that adapt to the geopolitical alterations
Rue Athanase Kircher: Astronome a Avignon XVIIe tion of the revenues after the Islamic Ayyubid dynasty (1171-1250 AD) to
ruler Christian of Brunswick Jean François Champollion that it is certain to encounter. Such
was described as ‘a friend of conquest.” 10% (or possibly 12%), when Egypt situations may call for amendments
Siécle, a street in Cap Sud near the city of Avi- found the real solution to the
God and an enemy of priests.’ Amr then explained, “If Phar- was ruled by the Mamluks (1250-
gnon, France named after Athanase Kircher, who Rosetta Stone. But the rela- or changes to a given constitution,
As a result of the civil strife aoh had better return from the land it 1516 AD) which is the proportion that
was a professor of mathematics, physics, as- tionship between Coptic and which will be impossible to carry out
between Protestants and is because he was a better farmer.” He has remained stable, under the Otto-
tronomy, philosophy and Coptic studies. Greek was equally clear to if that document is anchored to unal-
Catholics, Kircher wandered then added, “You said: ‘the more we mans through modern times. 10 11
Born on 2 May, the western Feast of St. Athanasius and to Jean terable religious directives.
around his native Germany squeeze the beast’s breasts the more Albert summarized the situ-
Athanasius, Kircher was named after the patri- François. Two centuries With such an analysis, it
for more than a decade. Dur- the milk flows’. But I have squeezed ation of the Copts in would seem very difficult to hope for
arch of the land he would later study. later, it was Champollion so much that the ani-
ing this time he was ordained who had carefully annotated the following lines: a progressive modern Democratic
as a priest, in Mainz in 1628. mal has ceased to To refuse to separate the “Persecution of the Nation to develop in a country like
Kircher’s work in his study produce any milk.2 ”
In 1630 Fr. Kircher became professor variety of fields, not only in math- in Paris, but it was clear that the priest religious from the secu- Copts were at times Egypt.
of philosophy, mathematics and Ori- ematics and physics but also in vari- had not contributed enough in the It thus seems lar will inevitably be- violent and cruel, but Difficult? Yes. Impossible?
ental languages at Würzburg. He also ous disciplines, including mechanics, study of hieroglyphics. that the Arab gov- come a road block to any sporadic and limited No!! In fact, hope, modernity and
served as a mathematician and as- optics, philosophy and religious ernment of Egypt g e o g r a p h i c a l l y . progress suddenly arrived in Egypt
form of authentic de-
tronomer in Paris and Avignon. started with the rela- Nonetheless, it was with a remarkable man: The Great
thought. Athanasius Kircher believed that he tively mild rule of mocracy
In France he met the great scholar It would be true to note that Kircher would soon decode hieroglyphics, the permanent status Mohamed Aly.
Nicolas Claude Fabri de Peiresc who devoted many decades of his life to opening their secrets to the world of Amr. This assertion of the Copts as second It is to him that we should
assisted Kircher in the field of Coptic knowing everything, from the life of his time. He was wrong. But the first is illustrated by the proud retort of class citizens, the daily humiliations,
now turn.
Studies. Indeed, Father Athanasius the most minuscule creatures to the steps that he took were quite remark- Amr, which occurred after the Cal- and especially the heavy fiscal
___
iph Othman took over the Caliphate extortions that ended up provoking the
Watani International remotest reaches of an infinite uni- able and milestones in Coptic stud- Dr. Amin Makram Ebeid (FRCS,
from Omar bin Khattab, and after Islamization of the majority of the
verse. Mindful of all human limita- ies. It is too easy to dismiss Kircher FACS) is a Diplomat of the Ameri-
Abdullah bin Saad replaced Amr as Christian population.”12
Page 2 Editor tions, he succeed, as consistently as as credulous, naive and lacking in can Board of Surgery and co-founder
Governor.
anyone in the time in which he lived, critical sense, but we must judge him of Coastal Surgical Group in Texas.
Saad Michael Saad When Othman reminded Amr 3. Long Term Effect of the Arab
in pushing back the boundaries of the in the context of his own time. He did He retired in 2003.
that the contributions that he sent
senses and of human thought, through not retard Coptic Studies. He ad-
were only 12 million dinars, whereas
Conquest of Egypt
Page 3 Editor new scientific instruments and, above vanced them, inaugurating the study
those of Abdullah Ibn Saad were 14
Notes
Adel Guindy all, through new habits of thought. He of the Coptic dialects in the West with i. Loss of Egyptian identity 1
Tagher, J.: Reported by Tabari in Tagher
millions, he went on to comment:”
worked under religious restrictions in masses of material.
Abdullah knew how to milk the she As discussed earlier in some details in p.79 in: Coptes et Musulmans. Dar el
his time, but he always found new His decision to begin with the study Maaref, Cairo,1952
Subscriptions camel better than you.” To which part I, this loss can only be appreci- 2
Tagher p.75
ways of expressing the radical ideas of the Coptic language was possibly ated by recognizing that after the con-
Amr retorted, “This is true but he 3
Tagher p.77
& Advertising of his age. The great German Jesuit one of the most intelligent things ever
did not die until 27 November 1680, achieved in the seventeenth century starved the little ones.3 ” quest Egypt became just a region of a 4
Tagher p. 85-6
at the ripe old age of seventy-eight. and made amends for any serious er- With poor farming and the vast Muslim Empire and gradually lost 5
King, W. p.7-8 in Historical Dictionary
Subscription rates for one year
rors in his study of Hieroglyphics. His decline of commerce, it became more its national identity. of Egypt. AUC Press 1984
6
(52 issues): and more difficult to satisfy the need Tagher p.113.
North America US $ 100 Although it is well known that ideas may not have survived criticism 7
Cannuyer, C. : p.66 in Coptic Egypt.
Athanasius Kircher failed to decipher but his influence continues, because to collect more and more taxes. As a ii. Cultural isolation of Egypt Discoveries, NY, 2001
Europe, Africa US $ 90 result the Kharaj was imposed even Paradoxically, this trend seems to have 8
Egyptian hieroglyphics, his Coptic of his intellectual and spiritual energy Albert, L.: p.44 in : Les Coptes, la foi
Australia, Far East US $ 120 studies were of immense importance and his immense enthusiasm for sci- on the Copts who converted to Islam. been greatly exacerbated after the du Désert. Edition Vecchi, Paris.1998
_____________________________
____________________________ in the 1630s and 40s. Prodromus entific and linguistic scholarship. This could explain why Islamization great Muslim victories over the Cru- 9
Tagher.p.122-3
Kindly complete the form below, Coptus sive Aegyptiacus (‘Coptic or Fr. Athanasius Kircher SJ may have of cities took less time than in the vil- saders because it created a feeling of 10
Albert p.44
11
and send it along with your lages (where Muslims suffered almost superiority among the victors, which See Christian Cannuyer p.83 which
Egyptian Forerunner,’ 1636) and the been far too uncritical in the century
payment in US$ or equivalant, Lingua Aegyptiaca Restituta (‘The in which he lived. In fact he was a as much as the Coptic Christians). gradually developed into cultural auto- mentions that “when the Muslim major-
payable to Restored Egyptian Language,’ 1643) demanding philosophical merchant, Still, farmers who became unable to sufficiency.13 As a result Egypt, along ity instituted long lasting oppressive
measures against the Copts in 1320, the
were highly valued for more than provider of data, stimulator of thought pay taxes abandoned their lands.4 with the other Arab countries, closed Christian community in Egypt began a
Watani International itself in socially and culturally, to such slow decline. It increasingly bore crush-
14308 Summer Tree Road, three centuries, and became primary and supplier of encyclopaedic infor-
sources for all Coptologists of any mation. He was a lover of faith and 2. The Vicissitudes of the Copts an extent that the first Egyptian aware- ing taxes, levied to finance the Mamluks
Suite G ness that another world has surpassed military policy, and its cultural life faded.
faith or nation. of his church. under Islamic Rule
Centreville, VA 20121
Kircher’s Coptic foundations were The distance between Kircher in the As alluded to earlier, the lot them came with the sudden appear- The church grew corrupt and sank into
Tel: 571-522-6560
fundamental but have now grown, af- seventeenth century and our own of the Copts fluctuated according to ance of the14Napoleonic troops in the lethargy. The situation did not improve
Fax: 571-522-6561 with the conquest of the Ottomans in 1517
ter four hundred years of Coptic twenty-first century may be a long one who was the Caliph or Governor. Nile Delta. AD.
Or pay by credit card scholarship, into works of powerful but the intellectual, spiritual and sci- This was clearly observable first un- 12
Name on the card: Albert p.46 (see also Tagher, Valognes)
modern scholarship. Kircher was not entific thread is always there. der the well guided Caliphs, then un- iii- Impoverishment of the country 13
Maalouf, A.: Les Croisades vue par les
____________________________
___________________________ only known as a ‘Father of Egyptol- ___ der the Ummayads (661-750) and There is little doubt that the Arab con- Arabes. Livraphone, Paris 1998. These
Card #: _____ _____ _______ ogy’ but as ‘The’ Father of Coptic The Revd. Dr. John H. Watson is an Abbasids (750-868) Caliphates. A dis- quest led in the long run to a steady victories seem to have exacerbated the
Expiration Date: _____________ Studies. The most important parts of Anglican priest who lives in Dorset, tinct improvement was observed with and significant decrease of State rev- existing Islamic trend to self-sufficiency
Card Type: ˚ Master Card the Prodromus Copticus were the sec- UK, and has been writing the fort- the independent rule of the Tulunide enue from Jyzia and Kharaj. Tagher as documented by W.M. Watt (p.41-44)
˚ Visa ˚ American Express tion where Kircher pointed out the nightly Coptophile Column for (868-905) and Ikhchidite (905-969) has used figures compiled by Prince in Muslim-Christian Encounters,
Address: value of the study of Coptic for an Watani International since 2002. He dynasties. Omar Tousson which showed the fol- Routledge, London.1991.
14
Moorhead, A.: The Blue Nile. Vintage
__________________________________
__________________________________ understanding of ancient Egyptian. is the author of several books includ- This phenomenon was ob- lowing figures:15 Books, 1983.
__________________________________
__________________________________ He also, wisely, affirmed the intimate ing Among the Copts (2000), Chris- served after the Caliph’s Governors Amr Ibn el As: 12 million 15
Tagher p.314
Telephone:________________ relationship between written Coptic tians Observed: Narratives for To- set themselves as independent rulers Abdullah b. Saad: 14 million 16
Tagher p.314
Fax:_______________________ and Greek. day’s Church (2004), and Listening to under the nominal authority of the Haroun el Rasheed: 4 million 17
Zakaria, R.: Muhamed and the Quran,
The Prodromus Copticus was vir- Islam (2005). Abbasid Caliphs.5 As a result; Egypt Ibn Tulun: 5 million (another re- p.58. Penguin Books, London 1991
23.
20 August 2006 Watani International 3
August 22 : Does Iran Have Something in Store?
what can only be described as the apocalyptic the privileges of martyrdom. Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long the annihilation of all them. Either we all become
Bernard Lewis worldview of Iran’s present rulers. This worldview A direct attack on the U.S., though possible, is awaited return of the Hidden Imam, ending in the free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is
and expectation, vividly expressed in speeches, less likely in the immediate future. Israel is a nearer final victory of the forces of good over evil, martyrdom. Either we shake one another’s hands
During the Cold War, both sides possessed weap- articles and even schoolbooks, clearly shape the and easier target, and Mr. Ahmadinejad has given however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of
ons of mass destruction, but neither side used perception and therefore the indication of thinking along these and his followers clearly believe that this time is us will turn to eternal life and martyrdom. In both
them, deterred by what was known as MAD, policies of Ahmadinejad and his lines. The Western observer now, and that the terminal struggle has already cases, victory and success are ours.”
mutual assured destruction. Similar constraints disciples. would immediately think of two begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even In this context, mutual assured destruction, the
have no doubt prevented their use in the confron- Even in the past it was clear that possible deterrents. The first is have a date, indicated by several references by the deterrent that worked so well during the Cold War,
tation between India and Pakistan. In our own day terrorists claiming to act in the name that an attack that wipes out Israel Iranian president to giving his final answer to the would have no meaning. At the end of time, there
a new such confrontation seems to be looming of Islam had no compunction in would almost certainly wipe out U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This will be general destruction anyway. What will
between a nuclear-armed Iran and its favorite en- slaughtering large numbers of the Palestinians too. The second was at first reported as “by the end of August,” matter will be the final destination of the dead—
emies, named by the late Ayatollah Khomeini as fellow Muslims. A notable example is that such an attack would evoke but Mr. Ahmadinejad’s statement was more hell for the infidels, and heaven for the believers.
the Great Satan and the Little Satan, i.e., the United was the blowing up of the American a devastating reprisal from Israel precise. For people with this mindset, MAD is not a
States and Israel. Against the U.S. the bombs embassies in East Africa in 1998, against Iran, since one may surely What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, constraint; it is an inducement.
might be delivered by terrorists, a method having killing a few American diplomats assume that the Israelis have Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to How then can one confront such an enemy, with
the advantage of bearing no return address. and a much larger number of made the necessary arrangements the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year such a view of life and death? Some immediate
Against Israel, the target is small enough to at- uninvolved local passers-by, many for a counterstrike even after a 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many precautions are obviously possible and necessary.
tempt obliteration by direct bombardment. of them Muslims. There were nuclear holocaust in Israel. Muslims commemorate the night flight of the In the long term, it would seem that the best,
It seems increasingly likely that the Iranians numerous other Muslim victims in The first of these possible prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, perhaps the only hope is to appeal to those
either have or very soon will have nuclear weapons the various terrorist attacks of the deterrents might well be of first to “the farthest mosque,” usually identified Muslims, Iranians, Arabs and others who do not
at their disposal, thanks to their own researches last 15 years. concern to the Palestinians—but with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., share these apocalyptic perceptions and
(which began some 15 years ago), to some of their The phrase “Allah will know his own” is usually not apparently to their fanatical champions in the Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an aspirations, and feel as much threatened, indeed
obliging neighbors, and to the ever-helpful rulers used to explain such apparently callous unconcern; Iranian government. The second deterrent—the appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of even more threatened, than we are. There must be
of North Korea. The language used by Iranian it means that while infidel, i.e., non-Muslim, threat of direct retaliation on Iran—is, as noted, Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from many such, probably even a majority in the lands
President Ahmadinejad would seem to indicate victims will go to a well-deserved punishment in already weakened by the suicide or martyrdom certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such of Islam. Now is the time for them to save their
the reality and indeed the imminence of this threat. hell, Muslims will be sent straight to heaven. complex that plagues parts of the Islamic world cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it countries, their societies and their religion from
Would the same constraints, the same fear of According to this view, the bombers are in fact today, without parallel in other religions, or for would be wise to bear the possibility in mind. the madness of MAD.
mutual assured destruction, restrain a nuclear- doing their Muslim victims a favor by giving them that matter in the Islamic past. This complex has A passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted _________________________________
_________________________________
armed Iran from using such weapons against the a quick pass to heaven and its delights—the become even more important at the present day, in an 11th-grade Iranian schoolbook, is revealing. Mr. Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, is the
U.S. or against Israel? rewards without the struggles of martyrdom. because of this new apocalyptic vision. “I am decisively announcing to the whole world author, most recently, of “From Babel to
There is a radical difference between the Islamic School textbooks tell young Iranians to be ready In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East”
Republic of Iran and other governments with for a final global struggle against an evil enemy, are certain beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle wish to stand against our religion, we will stand (Oxford University Press, 2004). The Wall Street
nuclear weapons. This difference is expressed in named as the U.S., and to prepare themselves for at the end of time - Gog and Magog, anti-Christ, against their whole world and will not cease until Journal
Here’s Why Jihadis Just Love to Fly This Is Just the Start of a Showdown
Michael Clarke
had great symbolic value for terrorists. Since the with passengers who accept much tougher secu- Between the West and Islamism
first commercial aircraft was hijacked in 1948 — rity than we would be willing to tolerate, and the
a Cathay Pacific seaplane out of Macau — there airline takes calculated risks with armed sky mar- Amir Taheri intense competition within the Islamist camp over
For all the time jihadi groups spend fantasising have been almost 40 significant airline hijacks. shals on flights in anticipation of a mid-air strug- who could claim leadership. For much of that pe-
about ways to commit mass murder, there is a Most ended with little or no loss of life, hence the gle. But El Al’s levels of security are not practical riod Sunni Salafist movements, backed by oil
pretty conventional terrorist mind-set behind most Many in the West see the mini-war between Israel money, were in the ascendancy. They began to
presumption among crew and passengers that it for the rest of us except in the short term. In the
of the plots that materialise. and Hezbollah, now in its fourth week, as another decline after the 9/11 attacks that deprived them
was as well to go along with a hijack if you were immediate future there will doubtless be great dis-
The security services anticipate all manner of episode in a tedious saga of an Arab-Jewish con- of much of the support they received from Arab
unfortunate enough to get caught in one. There ruption at our airports and possibly the installa-
possible terror attacks on Britain — chemical, flict that began with the creation of the state of governments and charities. In the past five years
were manuals on how to relate to hijackers, or to tion of expensive monitoring equipment.
biological, radiological, and cyber attacks, and Israel in 1948, a political version of the “original Tehran has tried to seize the opportunity to ad-
avoid being singled out by them; it was a routine Airlines, however, will continue to be attractive
cunning assaults on key infrastructure. There is a sin”. The conventional wisdom in the West is that vance its own leadership claims. The problem,
that hijackers and airlines both came to know. targets for terrorists and the vulnerability and
great deal of loose chat among would-be jihadis the whole tale would end if Israel were to return however, is that Iran is a Shia power and thus re-
All that changed with the 9/11 atrocities. If a glamour of any machine travelling at 600mph at
about such exotic homicidal possibilities. Kamel the occupied territories to the Palestinians, allow- garded by Sunni Salafists as “heretical”. To com-
plane is hijacked by jihadis intent on crashing it, 30,000ft, will not diminish, whatever measures are
Bourgass, the Wood Green “ricin plotter”, in- ing them to create a state of their own. pensate for that weakness, Iran’s President,
then simple arithmetic would come into play: there taken at airports. The most effective way to deal
tended to smear deadly poison on strap handles But that analysis does not reflect the Middle Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made the destruction
are six of them and 200 of you. Like the passen- with terrorism is still intelligence-led policing, and
in the Tube (Underground Metro) and on door East’s new realities. All the wars in that region of of Israel a priority for his regime. The war trig-
gers on United 93, there is nothing to lose by re- if yesterday’s operation is as significant as the se-
knobs in London’s Jewish neighbourhoods. But the past century, including the one between Iran gered by Hezbollah is in part designed to show
sistance. Hijacking in the traditional sense is out curity services indicate, they will have struck a
he failed to make any effective ricin. If wishes and Iraq in the 1980s, revolved around secular is- that President Ahmadinejad is not bluffing when
of fashion. But destroying aircraft is not. Richard good old-fashioned blow against a bad new fash-
were horses, jihadis would ride a very long way. sues — border disputes, the control of territory he promises to wipe Israel off the map as the first
Reid, the would-be shoe bomber, was caught mak- ionable terror technique.
It is still aircraft and explosives that loom large and water resources, security and diplomatic rela- step towards defeating the “infidel” West.
ing a comically inept, though dangerous, attempt ___________________________________
__________________________________
in the jihadi imagination. There is nothing quite tions. Although fought in the name of nationalism The broader aspects of the Lebanon crisis are
to blow a hole in the side of an aircraft just three Michael Clarke is Professor of Defence Studies
so photogenic as a stricken aircraft, or quite so or pan-Arab aspirations, none had a messianic di- better understood in the Middle East than in the
months after 9/11. American Intelligence reported at King’s College London. The Times
obscenely violent as a mid-air explosion. Salman a plot to board aircraft in Eastern Europe where West. For the first time, Israel is under attack from
Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses begins with this very security is lax, take them over and crash them into Islamist and Arab secular radicals as “an Ameri-
image. Jihadis are drawn to the images of Heathrow during their final approach. It is not clear can proxy”. Writing in Asharq Alawsat, a pan-Arab
Dawson’s Field in Jordan during September 1970 that this plot got beyond the talking stage, though daily, a Syrian Cabinet minister, makes it clear that
when four hijacked airliners were blown up by British jihadi chatter has recently speculated on the war in Lebanon today is between “the forces
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. the prospects of getting “thirty brothers” on board of Islam and America, with Israel acting as an
The memory of Lockerbie still sticks in the mind. a single aircraft, to control it long enough to de- American proxy”.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the chief operational stroy it. Iran’s “supreme guide”, Ali Khamenei, ex-
planner of al-Qaeda until his arrest in 2002, lav- The plot revealed yesterday may have been in- pressed a similar view this week during an audi-
ished attention on a plan in 1995 to blow up maybe tended to run along similar lines: to get a number ence he granted in Tehran to Hugo Chavez, the
ten US airliners over the Pacific. Al-Qaeda ter- of terrorists each with small amounts of explo- Venezuelan President. “What we see in Lebanon
rorists tried to bring down an El Al airliner taking sives on board multiple aircraft bound for the US. today represents the revolt of Muslim nations
off from Mombasa in 2002 with two Stinger mis- Explosives could then be pooled in-flight and deto- against America,” he said. “Hezbollah is backed
siles, and to this day it’s a wonder that they missed. nated to make a catastrophic hole in the aircraft’s (by Iran and others) because it is fighting
Commercial aircraft represent globalism and skin or blast a way on to a locked flight deck. Such America.” President Chávez endorsed that analy-
high technology — they shrink the world and a manoeuvre is not as easy as it sounds and again sis by calling on Muslims and non-Muslim revo-
threaten cultural conservatism. The Boeing 747 the simple arithmetic would apply once the ter- lutionaries to unite to “save the human race by fin-
was the last of the “great machines” that charac- rorists began to act suspiciously. But the symbolic ishing the US Empire”. Iran’s state-controlled
terised the 20th century: it opened up air travel to prize for the jihadis of destroying yet more air- media has said that Lebanon would become “the
the mass market. And it was so very American; craft after 9/11, of indiscriminate British and graveyard of the Bush plan for a new Middle East”.
big, brash and useful. But aircraft also appear vul- American deaths, hitting the air bridge across the Tehran believes that a victory for Hezbollah in
nerable. In truth, civil aircraft are a lot more ro- Atlantic and of panicking the aviation industry into Lebanon will strengthen President Ahmadinejad’s
bust than people think, but the aviation industry major disruption must remain tempting. bid for the leadership of radical Islam. A number
is selling safety almost as much as it is selling Facing the terrorist who thinks like this, British of recent events have made his attempt to wrest
transport and passengers need constant reassur- airports, more than most others in the world, are control more likely. This week several leading
ance that aircraft are operating well within their caught between the drive for significant extra se- Sunni theologians at the Al-Azhar seminary in
technical limits. curity and the impetus to keep the world’s busiest Cairo issued fatwas that allow Sunnis to fight
So destroying or hijacking aircraft has always transit hub moving. El Al, the Israeli airline, deals alongside and under the command of Shia Mus-
lims. The fatwas came in response to a Saudi fatwa
mension.
Nuggets Blackmail by The first two wars of the new century in the
that had declared any association with and sup-
port for Hezbollah to be haram (forbidden).
the ‘Moderates’ Middle East, however, were ideological ones. The
United States toppled the Taleban in Afghanistan
More significant was a message from Ayman al-
Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s number two. The Salafist
Laila Farid country’s National Fatwa Council ruled that Botox
The UK Government’s foreign policy is increas- and the Saddamites in Iraq not in pursuit of terri- radical tried to get hold of Hezbollah’s tailcoats in
contains substances prohibited under Islam, in- tory but in the name of an idea: democracy.
ingly cited as an explanation for Islamic terror- the hope of winning a share of the expected spoils
cluding those from pigs. ism in Britain. The Prime Minister’s decision to Since 2001 the region has been turned into an
♦ Making Bible Relevant in African However, Botox - the brand name of a substance of victory. He endorsed the idea of a global cam-
participate in the invasions of Afghanistan and ideological battleground between two rival camps paign against the “infidel”, thus abandoning his
Eyes derived from the toxin botulin which temporarily with global ambitions. One camp, led by the United
Iraq, and his reluctance to condemn Israel’s in- previous strategy of focusing the jihad on coun-
Africa Bible Commentary, a new book put to- paralyses facial muscles to eliminate wrinkles - cursions into Lebanon, have, so the argument goes, States, claims to represent the modern global sys-
will be allowed to treat medical conditions such tries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
gether by 70 scholars and theologians, provides caused Muslims to believe that the “war on ter- tem of open markets, free elections, religious
as cerebral palsy, muscle spasm and migraines. and Iraq. More significantly, he dropped the al-
explanations of verses from the Bible using g lo- ror” is really a war on Islam. From there, it is freedoms and sexual equality. The other camp is Qaeda claim of fighting a defensive war against
cal proverbs and idioms to make reading relevant claimed, it is a short step to believing that Mus- represented by radical Islam, which regards the the infidel by designating a vast area of jihad from
to African eyes while remaining true to the scrip- ♦ For Those Who Cannot lims must “defend themselves”, which is what Western model as not only decadent but danger- Spain to India.
tures. Boil an Egg leads some of them to get involved in terrorism. ous for the future of mankind. It hopes to unite the All that is good news for President Ahmadinejad,
But there are contradictions between Christian- It could be an answer to the prayers of people who, There is an echo of the warped and twisted logic world under the banner of Islam, which it holds to who claims that Sunni radicalism has reached the
ity and age-old traditions and taboos, and it is these quite literally, cannot boil an egg. of that argument in the open letter that a collec- be “The Only True Faith”. limits of its capabilities in the fight against the glo-
tensions that the book seeks to address. Revolutionary “self-timing” eggs designed to tion of distinguished Muslims have paid to have In the Lebanese conflict, Israel and Hezbollah bal system led by the US and that it is now the
In the book, a Kenyan theologian says of fe- overcome the perennial problem of how to avoid printed in most newspapers. It criticises the Gov- are the junior proxies for the rival camps. Israel is turn of the Shia, led by Iran, to be in the driving
male genital mutilation: “To abuse the body in a runny whites and ernment for trying to combat terror by focusing not fighting to hold or win more land; nor is seat.
way that destroys the ability to appreciate one of overcooked yolks will “extensively on domestic legislation”, while ig- Hezbollah. But both realise that they cannot live “Hezbollah has fought Israel longer than all the
God’s gifts is an insult to his creation.” appear on supermar- noring “the role of foreign policy.” The Govern- in security and prosper as long as the other is in a major Arab armies combined ever did,” President
ket shelves in the ment’s foreign policy, says the letter “is ammuni- position to threaten their existence. A Middle East Ahmadinejad told a crowd in Tehran this week.
♦ Ger many Ends Its Open-Door coming months. tion to the extremists who threaten us all”. dominated by Islamism could, in time, spell the He also promised that Muslims would soon hear
Policy for Jewish Migrants The eggs are In fact, the extremists who plot mass murder death of Israel as a nation-state. A westernised, “very good news” about the jihad against the
Germany is to end its open-door policy for Jews marked with logos in give very little evidence of being motivated by democratic Lebanon, on the other hand, could be- United States.
for the first time since the Holocaust after strug- “thermochromic” in- the details of Britain’s foreign policy. The attack come the graveyard of Hezbollah and its messianic The idea of Shia leadership for the jihad was
gling to cope with a sharp increase in the number visible inks that have that was foiled last week was planned, and its ideology. And if the US succeeds in fulfilling further boosted this year when Iran took Hamas
of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. been created to appear would-be “martyrs” recruited, long before such George W. Bush’s promise of a “new Middle East” under its wings. As a branch of the global Muslim
Since the end of the Second World War Ger- after three minutes to events as Israel’s assault on Hezbollah positions there will be no place for regimes such as the Is- Brotherhood movement, a Sunni outfit, Hamas has
many has welcomed all Jewish immigrants in indicate a soft-boiled in Lebanon. lamic Republic in Iran and Syria’s Baathist dicta- exerted its influence to win wider support for Ira-
atonement for the policies of the Nazi era. But in egg, after four min- The Spanish government changed its policy on torship. nian leadership at least as a tactical choice.
future, Jews wanting to settle there will have to utes for medium and Iraq after al-Qaeda killed hundreds of commuters The present rupture in Lebanon has much to do Many in the Middle East are alarmed by these
qualify on a points system which is already in after seven minutes for a hard-boiled egg. on trains in Madrid: that change of policy did not, with who will lead the fightback against the West. shifts of power and dread the prospect of the re-
place for other would-be immigrants. Shoppers will be able to buy the eggs of their however, stop Islamic terrorists from plotting fur- For almost a quarter of a century there has been gion entering a new dark age under radical Islam-
choice in cartons marked “soft”, “medium” or ther attacks, from whose murderous effects the ist regimes. For this reason, there seems to be much
♦ Fatwa Against Botox “hard”. Spaniards were saved only because the police - and this newspaper is far from agreeing with less hostility towards Israel in the wider Arab world
______________________________________________________ uncovered them. every aspect of it - the present Government’s for- than we might expect in the West. There may be
Wrinkled faces or a life of sin is the choice facing
Sources: The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The destruction of the World Trade Centre and eign policy has passed that test. no sympathy for Israel as such but many Arabs
Malaysia’s majority Muslim population after the
the Daily Telegraph the other attacks of September 11, 2001, were not There was an election in 2005 that provided the realise that the current war is over something big-
motivated by an attempt to change US foreign opportunity for changing foreign policy by demo- ger than a Jewish state with a tiny territory of
policy: Osama bin Laden has made it clear that cratic means. There will be one again by 2010. 10,000 square miles, less than 1 per cent of Saudi
the fundamental problem with the West is not any Muslims who disapprove of the Government’s Arabia’s land mass.
particular policy, foreign or domestic, but rather policy are entitled to try to persuade Tony Blair to This war is one of many battles to be fought be-
that it does not follow his narrow, sectarian and change it. tween those who wish to join the modern world,
medieval brand of Islam. What they are not entitled to do is blackmail warts and all, and those who think they have an
The suggestion that the Government should the Government into changing track by threaten- alternative. This is a war between the West and
change its foreign policy in order to placate ter- ing that violence will result unless it does so. “Do what one might describe as “The Rest”, this time
rorists is not only doomed to failure; it also rests as we say, or the extremists will plant more represented by radical Islamism. All the talk of a
on a fundamental confusion. The essence of de- bombs,” is not a form of argument acceptable in a ceasefire, all the diplomatic gesticulations may
mocracy is commitment to accepting that the only democracy. Until that point is understood by all ultimately mean little in what is an existential con-
policy which is legitimate for the Government to elements of the Muslim community, we cannot flict.
pursue is the one that is the outcome of demo- hope to eliminate the terrorist fringe within it. (The _________
cratic procedures. Whatever may be thought of it Daily Telegraph, editorial) The Times
24.
✂
Cartouche Dimanche
Equipe de rédaction:
Abdel Massih Felli
Dalia Victor
Michael Victor 20 Août 2006
Névine Lameï 14 Misra 1722
Caroline Onsy, Nermine Onsy Rédacteur en chef Directrice de rédaction 26 Ragab 1427
Mise en page: Youssef Sidhom Laura Hakim 1ère ANNEE
Héba Adel NUMERO 16
Révision:
Rafik Baracat
En Bref Suite à la résolution 1701
Dr Ahmed Mostaguir,
n'est plus
La défaite de Hezbollah entre la liberté
La
et le terrorisme
L'Egypte et le Monde arabe ont
Michael Victor
L e président américain George W. Bush
excuser ou de demander une permission à qui que ce soit pour ce
faire", a déclaré M. Olmert à propos des dirigeants du Hezbollah,
perdu Jeudi dernier un de leur grands a affirmé que le Hezbollah avait subi une défaite au Liban, mais a mis dans un discours au Parlement.
savants et littéraires distingués, le en garde contre l'ampleur que pourrait prendre un tel conflit si l'Iran, Il a estimé que l'offensive israélienne au Liban, déclenchée le 12
célèbre généticien, Dr Ahmed soutien de l'organisation radicale, disposait de l'arme nucléaire. juillet après l'enlèvement de deux soldats israéliens par le Hezbollah,
S'exprimant devant la presse, M. Bush, qui a apporté un soutien in- avait porté un coup sèvre à la milice chiite.
Mostaguir. Il est décédé en Autriche
défectible à Israël pendant un mois d'hostilités, a espéré que le ces- "Il n'y a plus d'Etat dans l'Etat", a déclaré M. Olmert en référence au
où il passait ses vacances annuelles.
sez-le-feu en vigueur depuis lundi au Liban tiendrait, mais a assuré Hezbollah qui contrôlait depuis six ans le sud du Liban, à la frontière
que cela dépendait entièrement du Hezbollah. Michael Victor nord d'Israël.
Le Hezbollah mais aussi l'Iran et la Syrie sont responsables d'une Il a qualifié d'"historique" la résolution 1701 du Conseil de sécurité
Gaza guerre qui fait partie d'un "combat plus vaste dans toute la région en- de l'Onu sur la cessation des hostilités et prévoyant un retrait des sol-
tre la liberté et le terrorisme". dats israéliens du Liban sud, parallèlement au déploiement dans la
Le
M. Bush s'est ainsi employé à défendre une action internationale zone de l'armée libanaise et de la Force intérimaire de l'ONU au Li-
président contestée à l'étranger, mais aussi aux Etats-Unis, à moins de trois ban (Finul) dont les effectifs doivent être portés à 15.000 hommes
de mois des élections parlementaires dont les difficultés irakiennes s'an- contre 2.000 actuellement.
l'Autorité noncent comme l'un des thèmes majeurs. "Il n'y plus d'organisation terroriste autorisée à opérer depuis le Li-
palestinie "Le Hezbollah a subi une défaite dans cette crise", a estimé M. ban comme le long bras de l'axe du mal qui s'étend de Téhéran à Da-
nne Bush, contredisant la plupart des analyses. mas en exploitant la faiblesse du Liban et en se servant de son peu-
Mahmoud Il a invoqué le déploiement prévu de l'armée libanaise et d'une force ple et de son infrastructure dans sa guerre".
Abbas et le premier ministre Ismail internationale qui devront reprendre au Hezbollah le contrôle du sud Affirmant que l'armée israélienne avait eu "le dessus" dans tous ses
Haniyeh se sont mis d'accord pour du Liban, mais aussi empêcher son approvisionnement en armes. En affrontements avec les combattants du Hezbollah, M. Olmert a re-
entamer des négociations pour composer outre, selon lui, le Hezbollah est très généralement reconnu comme connu des "accrocs" dans le déroulement de l'offensive au cours de
un cabinet d'unité nationale. Cela aidera le responsable de la guerre. laquelle 119 militaires israéliens ont été tués.
"La responsabilité des souffrances (au Liban et en Israël) incombe isation terroriste". "Nous aussi nous avons subi des coups douloureux", a-t-il dit. "Il y a
à lever l'embargo imposé aux
au Hezbollah" ,se référant à l'incursion en territoire israélien, la cap- Selon lui, le Liban est "l'un des trois fronts de la guerre contre le ter- eu des accrocs et nous devrons procéder à un examen de nos actes
Palestiniens, à soulager leurs souffrances rorisme", avec l'Irak et l'Afghanistan. Mais il a aussi évoqué l'organ-
et à faire relâcher les ministres et ture de deux soldats israéliens, les tirs de roquettes sur l'Etat hébreu à tous les niveaux. Nous n'hésiterons pas à examiner ce qui doit l'être
et le "sacrifice d'innocents" utilisés comme "boucliers humains" pour isation radicale palestinienne Hamas, que l'administration considère et nous ne cacherons rien".
parlementaires. Sur le terrain, les raids comme terroriste à l'instar du Hezbollah et qui gouverne aujourd'hui
israéliens se multiplient ces derniers jours se protéger de l'armée israélienne. "Nous devons faire en sorte que les choses se passent mieux la
Mais la "responsabilité des souffrances du peuple libanais incombe les territoires palestiniens. prochaine fois car il se peut qu'il y ait une prochaine fois".
dans la bande de Gaza. Des centaines Le Parti républicain de M. Bush s'inquiète que les difficultés ir-
aussi aux Etats soutenant le Hezbollah, l'Iran et la Syrie". Il a aussi prévenu qu'Israël "n'acceptera pas la moindre atteinte à sa
de Palestiniens ont suivi les funérailles de akiennes ne lui coûtent sa majorité en novembre.
Le régime iranien fournit au Hezbollah de l'argent, des armes et en- souveraineté" et qu'il se "réserve le droit de riposter" à toute éven-
deux hommes tués par un missile traîne les combattants de l'organisation. Il a réfuté que sa politique soit responsable des maux de la région: tuelle violation de la résolution 1701 par le Hezbollah.
israélien. L'armée israélienne a affirmé "L'Iran a signifié clairement qu'il veut la destruction d'Israël. Nous ne "(Notre) programme pour la liberté n'a pas créé les terroristes ni leur "Nous avons l'intention de veiller de près à la mise en oeuvre de la
avoir visé un entrepôt d'armes et prévenu pouvons qu'imaginer quels dangers bien plus grands ferait courir ce idéologie", comme le dit l'opposition démocrate, "mais le programme résolution de l'ONU".
ses occupants de quitter le bâtiment conflit si l'Iran avait l'arme nucléaire comme il en a la volonté", a-t-il dit pour la liberté nous aidera à les vaincre". M. Olmert a enfin promis de "mener personnellement toutes
avant l'attaque. à quelques jours de l'échéance d'un ultimatum lancé par le Conseil de Il a de même rejeté le reproche selon lequel la diplomatie amér- les démarches" entreprises en vue de ramener les deux soldats
sécurité à la République islamique pour qu'elle renonce à des ac- icaine aurait traîné à réclamer un cessez-le-feu au Liban: "La di- capturés par le Hezbollah. "Avec l'aide de Dieu ils reviendront
plomatie peut être un processus douloureux".
Irak tivités nucléaires ultrasensibles. rapidement".
Des débris, des pleurs et du sang. La M. Bush a aussi accusé l'Iran de soutenir les groupes armés opér- Intervenant également devant le Parlement, le chef de l'opposition
violence en Irak poursuit son long fleuve ant chez son voisin irakien. Israël poursuivra le Hezbollah de droite Benjamin Netanyahu s'en est violemment pris à l'Iran, prin-
Quant à la Syrie, elle "permet aux armes iraniennes de traverser Le Premier ministre israélien Ehud Olmert a menacé de poursuivre cipal soutien du Hezbollah, et à son président Mahmoud Ah-
de destruction parmi la population. Dans
son territoire en direction du Liban. La Syrie permet aux dirigeants du les dirigeants du Hezbollah "en tout lieu et en tout temps", après l'en- madinejad.
l'est de Bagdad, des attentats dans un
Hezbollah d'opérer de Damas". trée en vigueur d'une cessation des hostilités dans la guerre entre "Nous faisons face à un très grand danger, un danger qui menace
quartier commerçant très fréquenté ont "Nous espérons que le cessez-le-feu va tenir", a dit M. Bush en ex- l'Etat juif et la milice chiite libanaise. notre existence. Depuis Hitler, il n'y a pas eu de tyran comme Ah-
fait au moins 18 morts. Les attentates ont primant sa confiance dans les engagements pris par les gouverne- "Pour ces gens là, il n'y aura aucun pardon. Nous continuerons à madinejad au pouvoir", a affirmé M. Netanyahu. "Nous attendons des
eu lieu près d'une station de bus où se ments israéliens et libanais. les poursuivre en tout lieu et en tout temps. C'est une obligation mo- Etats-Unis qu'ils empêchent l'Iran de s'armer" de la bombe atomique,
rendent régulièrement les Chiites pour "Mais je ne peux pas parler pour le Hezbollah. C'est une organ- rale envers nous-mêmes, et nous n'avons pas l'intention de nous en a-t-il ajouté.
aller dans le sud du pays. Cette énième
effusion de sang prouve encore une fois
les sérieuses difficultés des forces
américaines et irakiennes pour mettre fin L'Actualité Sarkozy critique les as-
sociations de défense des
à la violence. Des effectifs
supplémentaires ont été en effet
déployés dans la capitale depuis plus de
dans la Presse sans-papiers
10 jours. Par ailleurs, à Bassorah, des
hommes armés ont attaqué le bâtiment Française Le ministre de l'Intérieur, était l'invité de
France 2. Ce n'est pas encore la fin des va-
qui abrite le conseil municipal et le cances pour Nicolas Sarkozy, mais il a choisi,
bureau du gouverneur de la province. sur France 2, de faire le point sur les at-
tentats déjoués à Londres. Le ministre de l'In-
térieur a saisi l'occasion pour s'exprimer pub-
Etats-Unis liquement à la télévision sur ce sujet avant de
Un avion de
se rendre dans la capitale britannique, où il
United Airlines
doit rencontrer ses homologues britannique
parti de
et allemand, ainsi que plusieurs ministres de
Londres pour
l'Intérieur européens. Interrogé à ce sujet, il a
Washington a
affirmé que la menace terroriste en France
été dérouté
était «élevée et permanente». Il a indiqué
d'urgence vers
qu'il se rendait également à Londres pour en-
l'aéroport de
visager les moyens «d'harmoniser la réponse
Boston, escorté par des avions de
à la menace terroriste».
chasse. Il semble qu'une passagère,
Mais Nicolas Sarkozy a aussi voulu ré-
claustrophobe, ait été victime d'une crise
pondre aux critiques qui se multiplient de la
d'anxiété qui a fortement perturbé le vol
part des associations de défense des sans-
et nécessité l'atterrissage de l'avion. Les
papiers. Donnant raison à l'avocat Arno
premières informations faisaient état de
Klarsfeld, qu'il a nommé médiateur sur ce
la découverte d'un objet interdit. La
dossier, dans la polémique qui l'oppose à
passagère en question âgée de 60 ans Paraguay : mort d'Alfredo certaines associations de défense des sans-
n'aurait pourtant aucun lien avec le
terrorisme. Ce qui est sûr c'est qu'un
Stroessner papiers, il a jugé qu'«un certain nombre d'as-
Turquie: Fièvre anti-Europe Il est vrai que les réserves européennes à une sociations font assaut de démagogie et d'ir-
suspect est entendu par le FBI, et que intégration rapide de la Turquie constituent une
L'ex-dictateur, à la tête du pays de 1954 responsabilité sur ce dossier».
tous les bagages ont été contrôlés. belle épine dans le pied des islamistes au pou-
à 1989, était soigné dans un hôpital bré- Olivier Weber Vendredi dernier était le dernier jour pour
silien. Il était âgé de 93 ans, est décédé Les Turcs bouderaient-ils l'Europe ? Après voir. D'autant que l'équipe d'Erdogan s'est rév- retirer les demandes de régularisation. Le nu-
Londres 16 août l'hôpital de Brasilia où il était soig- avoir frappé à la porte de Bruxelles, la Turquie élée davantage proeuropéenne que les mil- méro deux du gouvernement estime qu'elles
Malgré le renforcement des mesures né depuis la fin du mois du juillet. Le serait, à en croire un sondage, en train de ver- itaires, longtemps au pouvoir et qui disposent s'élèvent à «un peu moins de 30 000 de-
antiterroristes de ces derniers jours, décès de Stroessner "est confirmé", a ser dans un profond conservatisme religieux. toujours d'une grande influence dans le pays. mandes», et il prévoit qu'environ «6 000 se-
l'Union européenne peine à retrouver la déclaré un responsable du service de Une réaction qui serait directement liée aux Qu'importe, certains barons de l'AKP entendent ront régularisées».
recette miracle pour combattre le presse de l'hôpital Santa Luzia. Un com- atermoiements de l'Union européenne à accept- profiter du durcissement de l'électorat turc. L'un Réagissant à un reportage présenté à ce
terrorisme. Une recette commune, c'est muniqué sur l'heure et les circonstances er en son sein cette nation de 80 millions d'hab- de ses idéologues, le ministre des Affaires sujet pendant le journal télévisé, dans lequel
ce que les ministres de l'Intérieur de de la mort de Stroessner va être diffusé, a itants, à 98 % musulmane. étrangères, Abdullah Gül, enfonce le clou : « on voyait un père de famille bénéficiant déjà
plusieurs pays de l'Union sont venus t-il précisé. Selon l'étude, conduite par deux universités Des gens modérés et libéraux en Turquie sont d'une carte de séjour se plaindre que la de-
chercher à Londres, lors d'un mini- L'ancien dictateur avait été opéré pour d'Istanbul, 60 % des Turcs estiment désormais en train de devenir anti-américains et anti-UE. » mande de régularisation de sa femme et de
sommet rassemblant notamment le une hernie fin juillet mais son état s'était que le manque de foi religieuse est responsable Crainte de l'isolement de la Turquie ou re- ses enfants ait été refusée par la Préfecture,
Français Sarkozy, le Britannique Reed ou aggravé avec l'apparition d'eau dans ses de leurs problèmes quotidiens. Plus inattendu, vendication d'un conservatisme inné des is- Nicolas Sarkozy s'est étonné d'un tel ex-
encore l'Allemand Schaüble. Objectif, poumons et il était sous assistance res- 46 % d'entre eux veulent confier leurs enfants à lamistes turcs ? Plusieurs opposants à Erdogan emple, selon lui sans rapport avec la cir-
accélérer la collaboration antiterroriste piratoire. Alfredo Stroessner, 93 ans, viv- des écoles religieuses dans un pays où l'éduca- estiment que sa vraie stratégie est de remplacer culaire dite du 13 juin. Une circulaire qui
entre les 25, l'heure n'est pas encore à la ait au Brésil depuis qu'il avait été chassé tion musulmane fut longtemps bannie. le dogme laïque par une république théo- énonce les critères de régularisation des
solution, mais à la discussion, comme le du pouvoir en février 1989 par un coup Ce sondage place dans l'embarras les con- cratique. Une tâche rendue plus facile avec le sans-papiers dont les enfants sont scolarisés
reconnait John. Cette réunion intervient d'Etat dirigé par le chef de l'armée, le seillers du Premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Er- refus de Bruxelles. L'armée, elle, temporise. La en France.
une semaine après l'alerte terroriste de général Andres Rodriguez. Stroessner dogan, qui, malgré son étiquette d'islamiste, a nomination d'un dur à la tête de l'état-major, Ya- Il a également répété qu'une régularisation
Londres, la découverte d'un présumé avait lui aussi conquis le pouvoir par un fait de la voie vers l'Europe son cheval de ba- sar Büyükanit, ancien patron de l'armée de massive des sans-papiers était
complot visant des avions entre coup d'Etat le 4 mai 1954 et s'était fait taille. Une stratégie qui lui a valu une grande terre, démontre que les partisans de la laïcité «irresponsable», en rappelant que la crise
Heathrow et les Etats-Unis. Un complot réélire huit fois pour se maintenir au pou- popularité et permis d'élargir l'assise de son par- n'ont pas dit leur dernier mot des banlieues en novembre 2005 avait mon-
qui selon Nicolas Sarkozy aurait un lien voir pendant presque ti, l'AKP (Parti de la justice et du déve- tré «les difficultés du système
de plus en plus probable avec Al Qaìda. trente cinq ans. loppement). d'intégration français».
tarif d’abonnement: Egypte:65 L.E - Pays arabes: 150 L.E - L’europe: 90 dollars - L’amérique: 100 d o llars - L ’au stralie: 120 d o llars am éricain
✂
25.
2 Watani International 20 August 2006
4 Watani International 20 August 2006
Pope Shenouda III Next Tuesday, following a fortnight of fasting, Copts celebrate one of the feasts closest to their hearts: the Feast of the Assumption
of the Holy Virgin. Annual celebrations are held all along the path trodden by the Holy Virgin in the land of Egypt.
Pastoral Care (10)
A spiritual priest
cares for Blessings in Assiut
everybody's
salvation
Translated by: Dr Wedad Abbas
A priest should be spiritual, for his work nor ritual services involve them wholly, but
can be summarized in the following phrase from rather the salvation of souls be their main
the Didascalia; "A bishop has to care for every concern.
body to save him." And a bishop works through Care means love, labor, and visits. Care
his priests, and those through their deacons. means not giving excuses for failure, nor falling
Therefore the duty of the bishop, the priest, and quickly into despair when facing obstinate ap-
the deacon is caring for everybody's salvation. ostates or hard-hearted souls. Care rather ex-
Then, since the duty is salvation, he who fulfills tends to everyone and takes no rest until making
it should be a spiritual person. sure of everybody's salvation by all means, as
The words "everybody" encompass all: old we say to the Lord in the Divine Liturgy: "You
and young; those who come to the church and have tied me to all medicines leading to life!"
those who do not; the godly and the ungodly. Furthermore, people can distinguish between
Let not the priest think that only those who care and formal ministry.
come to the church are his own, but should take The priest and caring for ministers:
care of his friends and his enemies to save them, Care for ministers includes making sure of
and of the Board's members who resist him to the orthodoxy of their teaching.
save them. Let not the Sunday School teacher This is important because some ministers
think that he is responsible only for those on the teach their own doctrines which may conflict
list, but should take care of every and each one, with the church doctrines due to foreign read-
even of those who are careless and who go to ings. Recently we have seen such a type of min- These are days of blessings for the Coptic Church. During the beloved Holy the Monastery of Assiut Mountain.
places of entertainment. isters in Cairo and in other Governorates. Virgin’s fast, which began on the first day of the Coptic month of Misra (7 Au- Today, the monastery includes the cave church and the opposite 14th-
The words "everybody" do not refer only Some of those left Orthodoxy and joined oth-
to the Orthodox, but also to all de- er denominations. Some others form groups of gust) and ends with the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin on 16 Mis- century tower church, as well as the Churches of the Baptism, the Qorban
nominations because they are among his youths or ministers as followers and defenders ra, thousands rush to the Western Mountain of Assiut to spend the days of the or offering, the Square, and the Stall, on the altars of which prayers and of-
flock. of their views. This resulted in the lack of the fast at the spot where they believe the Holy Virgin resided some two millenia ferings are made all year round.
Pastoral work includes preaching to the non- one spirit in all branches of ministry; for some ago. The focal point of the mountain site is the huge 3,000 square-metres-wide
believers. Our father apostles extended their branches acquired a particular characteristic,
work to heathens, and ordained bishops for whether spiritual or doctrinal, or a certain type natural cave which is believed to have sheltered the Holy Family for some six The lights
countries where no Christians existed. You, on of activity distinguishing them. months—the longest period spent in a single spot—during its flight into Egypt. In August 1986, worshippers reported seeing heavenly lights emerging
the other hand, serve churches already es- A distinctive phase that needs that clergy's from inside the cave, and again in 2003 when it was also seen by overjoyed
tablished and believers already have faith. care is the independence of the ministry and Mountain and cave people everywhere within the mountain compound of guesthouses.
If the bishop's mission is to seek salvation the ministers.
of everybody, he should know who those are. Some senior ministers in some branches may The mountain site, which lies a few kilometres south of Assiut, is easily As the second millenium approached its end, in August 2000, heavenly
He should make a survey of the whole area discharge or appoint any ministers they want accessible and well-equipped to accommodate the huge number of visitors. lights flared all over the towers and dome of St Mark’s church in Assiut.
within his diocese to know everyone of his who follow their own views. In this way, all the Spacious guesthouses have been built against the mountain rocks, all sorts The church stands along the path leading from the Nile harbour on which
flock, for the Lord Christ says that He calls His ministers of the branch become mere followers of public utilities and services are available, and a dedicated staff runs the the boat bringing the Holy Family to Assiut moored up to the Western
own sheep by name (Jn10). Therefore a bishop doing their will in the way they want.
should know his own sheep not only by their * Some ministers have deviated spiritually place smoothly. But it was not always so. Mountain cave where they finally took shelter. The lights, accompanied
names, but also by their problems, their circum- and attack the clergy through published ma- More than sixty years ago, it took an arduous journey to reach the sacred with white luminous doves flying around the dome and towers, continued
stances, and the hindrances on their way to God. terial and leaflets, and they led a whole gen- spot. People travelled the laborious path up to the cave on donkey-back, for months and were seen by thousands from all over Egypt, who flocked
It is good for a shepherd to have a strong eration with the same spirit. loaded with burdens. Water was scarce, and had to be fairly shared between to Assiut for prayers and blessings.
memory. Restoring those ministers to the sound spir- the pilgrims and their animals. Services were unheard-of. Today, the Holy Virgin’s monastery in Assiut’s Western Mountain is again
Many people feel lost in the crowd and their itual way is the duty of the church heads and fa-
names forgotten. They find no place in the thers in the different ranks: bishops or priests. In 1946, His Grace Anba Mikhail became Archbishop of Assiut, and the the scene of joyous celebrations. At sunset every day, the cherished icon of
priest's memory to rest in, and they feel that he Unless there are clergy supervising and con- sacred site at Assiut’s Western Mountain came under his concern. As the St Mary is taken out of its site in the cave and is carried, within a procession
does not care for them. Only if any of them is trolling the ministry of such ministries they years passed, the cave and its church were accorded much attention, and bad- of deacons dressed in their traditional white tunics and red sashes, chanting
lost or converted to another religion or sect that would be a danger to the church, to themselves, ly-needed facilities and tastefully-designed guesthouses began to sprout. praises to melodies that go back to time immemorial, all over the paths of the
the priest remembers that he was his son! and to the future generations. His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI, who was patriarch of the Holy See of St monastery compound and back to the cave. Anba Mikhail is there to preside
The clergy often protest against any inter- *There should be one unified elaborate
ference from others and blame them though they curriculum for church education. Mark from 1959 to 1971, and who is today widely considered by Copts as a over the procession, bless the congregation, and offer prayers and incense to
themselves do nothing. Therefore a priest has to Such a curriculum should be obligatory and powerful saint, paid a visit to site in 1962. He held prayers and blessed the the Lord, as our blessed Lady of Assiut engulfs the faithful in her all-
know everyone of his flock and know his/her covering all age brackets: pre-school; pre- congregation and the budding development at what had come to be known as embracing love and care.
state, and if he is not able—and this is most liminary; preparatory; secondary; university;
probable—let him employ many assistants. This youths; and covering all classes: workers and
is preferable, for many capabilities in the church village people.
are unemployed, and they are liable to be em- Such a curriculum should be prepared by the
ployed by devil, by other sects, or by other ac-
tivities of the world.
The mission of the clergy is to save those:
Many of the clergy care for the congrega-
tion for secondary matters such as financial
or social or family problems, without seeking
Church Education Commission, and should be
published and distributed. The clergy also have
to follow up implementation.
*Besides the curriculum, there should be
Text Books. For a minister may teach the topic
title but say whatever details he wants from his
Where
the salvation of their souls. own views and trends. But having a Text Book
the Virgin
They are like the parents who care only for in hand shall insure unified sound teaching.
the education, the health, the nutrition, and the Another curriculum is required for pre-
clothing of their children, but they do not care at paring ministers.
all for their salvation. A father, for instance, It should provide them with spiritual and ed-
burns if his son contracts a disease, but does not ucational religious knowledge. This will ensure
care whether his son is attached to God or not. providing the church with faithful ministers of
And a mother may be concerned about her the coming generation be of one spirit and one
daughter how pretty she is, but is not concerned mind.
about her attaining the Kingdom of God.
In fact the salvation of souls is the most im-
portant thing, the corner stone in the shep-
herd's work. Any other works are a mere
means leading to this goal.
A clergy may be keen on bringing people to
the church, but this is only a means, but the
And since most of the priests are chosen
from among the ministers, therefore we will
be indirectly preparing the future priests.
Care for ministers is therefore the duty of the
head of the church, the Church Education
Commission, and the revered bishops within
their diocese. What is then the responsibility of
trod
salvation is not sure. Many clergy care for the the father priest in his church?
outer aspects of the Christian life, without go- 1. Ensuring the church library's suf-
ing into the depths of the heart and its attach- ficiency and orthodoxy.
ment to God. For this purpose a priest may check the
Some clergy, regrettably, think that the term books of the library to ensure that they contain In 1858 the Virgin Mary appeared to a young French great-grandson Joseph became the pharaoh’s chief
"salvation" belongs only to the "Souls Salvation
Societies"! They even heap accusations against
sound teaching, and that they contain books for
all age bracelets, and he may take away un-
girl living in Lourdes, 800kms from Paris. The event Marina Ihab vizier. Egypt was the land of prosperity even during
any ministers who utter these words, and if pos- sound books. caused such a tourist surge that the government had to the seven years of famine and starvation. Moses was
sible they would omit such verses of the Bible 2. Following up the spiritual life of each step in and build a shrine with a surrounding wall for the visitors born in Egypt when the Jews were slaves to the pharaoh, and
like, "receiving the end of your faith—the salva- minister. who swarmed in to see the spot where the girl, Bernadette Sou- Egypt was blessed in the Old Testament. Mary, Joseph, and
tion of (your) souls" (1Pet1: 9) And scarcely He has to make sure that the minister prac- birous, witnessed the miracle. Since then pilgrims, many of them Baby Jesus found no other haven but Egypt on their flight from
does anyone of them preach the words of Paul tices regularly confession, holy communion, in wheelchairs and on stretchers, have flowed in from all over Bethlehem. Egypt was even a main station in the Islamic
the Apostle, "Take heed to yourself and to the prayer, fasting, and other means of grace. He
doctrine, for in doing this you will save both may inquire about his readings to ensure that he the world to seek a cure and a blessing. This small town is now conquest, and is land of al-Azhar.
yourself and those who hear you." (1Tim4: 16) does not read suspected or deviating books of equipped with 30,000 hotel rooms and welcomes more than five Regarding Christian tourism, surely Israel is superior?
Salvation is actually the main and most im- certain authors. million visitors a year. The pilgrimage area in Palestine is small compared to the Holy
portant and deepest goal we seek. We are keen 3. Ensuring the continual discipleship of If one compares the historical and religious background, as Family’s journey in Egypt. Many places in Egypt could stand
on it more than the "Souls Salvation Societies" the minister to protect him from falling in ar- well as the natural scenery of Lourdes and Gabal al-Teir (Moun- alone as a shrine with unique entity and significance. Besides,
who believe that their congregation is already rogance. Clockwise from
saved. I remember in late forties and early fifties, in top of page:
tain of the Birds) in Minya—which reportedly sheltered Baby Egypt is a much safer place than Israel.
In doing such things, the clergy should do St. Antony's church of Shoubra, every minister Jesus, Mary and Joseph for a few weeks during their flight into Are the towns and villages of Upper Egypt ready to receive
them with a zealous heart, not as a mere had to attend four meetings a week: The Classes Anba Mikhail, Egypt—Egypt wins hands down. The Holy Family traversed tourists for overnight stays rather than one-day trips?
duty or job. Meeting, the General Meeting; the Youths Archbishop of Egypt from its north-easternmost point at al-Farma, all through I believe we could start with Assiut, specifically Dronka and the
Remember what Paul the Apostle said, "who Meeting; the Sunday Meeting (in which Dr. Ra- Assiut; the Delta and west of it, and south into Upper Egypt till Assiut. Muharraq Monasteries, and Minya, where the Monastery of
is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to gheb Abdel Nour taught, and I succeeded him
stumble, and I do not burn?" (2Cor11: 29) And when he became a physician and moved to Lux- The Virgin’s However, many of the places they are believed to have taken ref- Gabal al-Teir stands high on a hill surrounded by lush greenery.
we read that when he went into Athens his spirit or and Gaza). Monastery in the uge in are in a sorry state. Hotels should attract tourists to stay for a few days and stroll
was provoked within him as he saw that the city 4. Taking interest in conferences for min- Western Mountain Watani interviewed Samir Mitri Gayed, member of the Na- around the town. Small projects for making and selling hand-
was given over to idols (Acts17: 16). Also the isters to ensure the one spirit.
of Assiut; The tional Egyptian Heritage Revival Association (NEHRA). crafts and tourist artefacts are bound to spring up. This would
Psalm says, "Zeal for Your house has eaten me Such conferences bring together ministers create better employment, help lift Upper Egypt from poverty,
up." (Ps64: 19) from various churches under one leadership (at church in the cave What is the role of NEHRA?
We need clergymen caring for their congrega- present under supervision of both H.G. Amba and ensure security.
of Assiut’s Western NEHRA is a non-profit association, with Muslim and Christian Some spots do not need drastic changes. Three places easily
tion, and their ministry mixed with love, power, Moussa and H.G. Amba Raphael) Some other
and care, and their hearts burning within them metropolitans, bishops, and priests participate Mountain; members who are keen on preserving the heritage of Egypt. The qualify: Farma, which was the first place in Egypt to shelter Je-
for the congregation. Such clergy weep before with them, as well as some famous ministers. Valentina places visited by the Holy Family are high on our list. sus; Cairo, because of the old churches and Coptic Museum; and
God, day and night, for the repentance of their This ensures the one mind, the one source of Wadie’s icon; Why do you specifically target religious tourism? Wadi Natroun where, besides the desert monasteries, there is
children; struggle and labor giving no sleep to knowledge, and the variation of religious knowl- Most tourists come to Egypt for the historical monuments or, on a Beheira al-Hamra (Red Lake), which is salty and yet has a
their eyes nor slumber to their eyelids till they edge, besides giving the chance for questions to Samir Mitry Gayed
find a place for the Lord in the heart of every- reveal any foreign thoughts and reply to them. smaller scale, eco-tourism. Other coun- spring of fresh water called Mary’s Spring.
one. Therefore we expect from them to give The priests should ensure that the ministers of tries in the region strongly compete You have used Islamic verses in some of your writing. Was
much care for visits, preaching, and ministry in their churches are not separated from this gener- with Egypt in this regard. Gulf coun- this to target Arab tourism?
general for the salvation of everybody. al trend of teaching represented in such confer- tries such as Dubai work on conference Actually, this came from when I attended a seminar on "tour-
Let not routine ministry overwhelm them, ences or seminars. and shopping tourism. The field in ism in the light of Islam". All the speakers highlighted Islamic
which no other Middle Eastern coun- sites and disregarded the Christian ones, so I asked the coor-
Watani International.... Watani International.... try—apart from Israel—can compete dinator if I could say my piece. I referred to verses in the Holy
with us is religious tourism. Qur’an that mention the Virgin Mary and Eissa (Jesus) and
Egypt was a cornerstone in the Holy pointed out that since the Virgin and Child were highly re-
Editor-in-chief Youssef Sidhom
Editorial team Books since the early prophets. Abra- nowned in the Qur’an, it was our duty to draw attention to the
Ghada Tantawi ham and Sarah came to Egypt; their places they trod.
Cairo staff Ghali Kozman
Managing editor Samia Sidhom Dalia Victor
"Inspirations from the Flight of Mary Mansour sus Himself consecrated the first altar in the
Donia Wagdy
Copy editor Jenny Jobbins the Holy Family into Egypt" was Christian world. In the middle of the painting,
Marina Ihab the title of an exhibition held in Cairo last Jesus rests His hand on the rock to consecrate it as an altar.
Layout editor Heba Adel Nivert Rizkallah month by the association of preserving Cop- The Holy Virgin stands close behind with a hand on Jesus’
tic heritage. The exhibition included sculp- shoulder, and Salome—St Mary’s aunt, traditionally be-
International staff Senior editors tures, reliefs, textiles, and Coptic icons by some 30 art- lieved to have helped her during birth, served Baby Jesus
Executive editor Magdi Khalil (NY) Saad Michael Saad, ists—mostly young—in addition to such great artists as as a nanny, and accompanied the Holy Family into
Flight
Tel (1) 571 5226560, (Los Angeles) Wafiqa Mustafa, Hind Shalaby and Laila Sandion. Some of Egypt—stands in the background. A map of the River Nile
Fax (1) 571 5226561 the works were traditional, but many of the younger artists in Egypt spring out of the altar, a reference to the spread of
E-mail: magdikh@ hotmail.com magdikkamel@ aol.com Adel Guindy (France) ventured into new territory. the Christian faith all over Egypt. The Lord stands on the
Fax (33) 147012600 Baher Hassan used old oxides or ceramic dough in his top right hand corner of the painting flanked by Arch-
E-mail: guindya@aol.com works. In one, the Holy Virgin is depicted on donkey-back, angels Mikhail and Raphael, each holding a water jug to
Editing advisor William El-Miry (NY)
Laila Shafik Farid (U.K) gently holding Baby Jesus, with St Joseph embracing them serve the consecration.
Contributing editor Mahfouz Doss (LA) Fax (44) 1704574356, both. They are grouped against a background of a winged vul- At the lower left hand corner, St Joseph closes the eyes
Fax (1) 310 8208480
Tel (1) 310 8263388,
E-mail: madoss3@yahoo.com
E-mail:
lailafarid@btopenworld.com
Virginia office: 14308 Summer Tree Road, Suite G, Centreville, VA 20121;
in colour ture before the sun, the Holy Family making a connection be- of his nephew Joses, who—as oral tradition has
tween the one God of Christianity and of ancient Egypt. it—rushed from Jerusalem to warn the Holy Family of
Valentina Wadie’s work is mainly inspired by the Herod’s continued chase after them; Joses died and was
Church father’s traditions. One of her paintings highlights buried in al-Muharraq monastery. At the right side of the
the Holy Family’s stay at what is today al-Muharraq mon- painting, the angel appears asking Joseph to take Mary
Los Angeles office: P.O.Box 2442, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 astery in Assiut, Upper Egypt, where it is believed that Je- and the Child back home.
20 August 2006
Watani International 3
26.
✂
Watani Francophone 20 Août 2006
6
Assomption Découvertes Sensationnelles de
de nouvelles tombes dans la Vallée des Rois
la sainte Vierge Une nouvelle tombe aurait été localisée le 10 août 2006 par un archéologue britannique dans la Vallée des Rois, à
Louxor, la deuxième depuis la sensationnelle découverte de la sépulture de Toutankhamon, en 1922. Nicholas Reeves,
considéré comme un des meilleurs spécialistes de la nécropole pharaonique, a annoncé sur son site Internet avoir
repéré, par une étude radar, une cavité, à quelques mètres de celle de Toutankhamon, la KV62.
Une petite sépulture avait L'ouverture des six premiers cercueils en bois, ta-
Rafik Baracat été trouvée en février dans pissés d'une résine moulée sur le visage des dé-
cette partie de falaise par un funts, n'avait rien donné. Hier, les archéologues et
égyptologue américain, Otto Schaden. Mais ses les journalistes ont retenu leur souffle lorsque le
sept sarcophages ne contenaient aucune momie, couvercle du septième et dernier sarcophage a été
laissant encore entier son mystère. Désignant soulevé devant leurs yeux. Allait-on y trouver une
cette tombe virtuelle avec un point d'interrogation momie de la femme ou de la mère de Tou-
"KV 64" (Kings'Valley N°64), Reeves affirme que tankhamon ?
son équipe l'avait repérée, ainsi que celle trouvée La réponse était non… En lieu et place d'une mo-
en début d'année, la KV 63, lors d'une étude radar mie, ce sont des colliers de fleurs tissées, des objets
en 2000. religieux et du matériel d'embaumement que les vis-
"En raison du puissant intérêt suscité par la iteurs ont découvert. Certains ont eu peine à dis-
KV63" indique Reeves, "j'ai conclu que la meilleure simuler leur déception, d'autres comme la con-
option était non seulement de révéler l'existence servatrice Nadia Lokma ont félicité cette trouvaille :
apparente de cette deuxième tombe, mais aussi "C'est encore mieux que de découvrir une momie !
son exacte localisation". Cela va nous apporter davantage d'informations sur
S'expliquant dans la revue américaine Ar- les plantes et les herbes religieuses que les Egypti-
cheology, il affirme que "son but n'est pas de re- ens utilisaient, ainsi que sur ce qu'ils portaient, la
vendiquer un prix" mais d'"alerter le monde sur le manière dont ils tissaient et embaumaient leurs dé-
potentiel immense restant dans la Vallée des Rois, funts". Si les sarcophages sont vides, c'est pro-
en dépit de deux siècles de graves abus ar- Des colliers de fleurs tissées, des objets religieux et du bablement parce que ce tombeau de plus de 3.000
chéologiques". matériel d´embaument dans la tombe kv63 ans a été pillé pendant la 18ème dynastie. Mais les
Persuadé que nombreuses tombes restaient à dé- archéologues comptent bien percer le mystère de
couvrir dans la nécropole thébaine, Reeves avait KV63, notamment par l'analyse des résidus de mom-
dirigé sur place à partir de 1998 un vaste projet d'études géophysiques et statigraphiques, ification et des objets découverts dans la tombe…
Amarna Royal Tombs Project (ARTP). Mais son permis a été révoqué en 2002 après une ac-
cusation finalement infondée d'implication dans un trafic d'antiquités. Il n'a pas obtenu du Amon-Rê roi des dieux
Conseil supérieur égyptien des antiquités le droit de reprendre son travail. La première mention du dieu Amon se trouve dans les textes des Pyramides, où il ap-
L'hypothèse prévaut désormais d'un déménagement vers la Vallée des Rois de sé- paraît avec sa parèdre Amonet. Il appartient à la fameuse Ogdoade d'Hermopolis. Ce-
pultures royales après la fin de l'hérésie Akhenaton, le père de Toutankhamon. Mort très pendant, la question de son origine géographique est encore disputée. Son culte ne prend
jeune, ce dernier était revenu au culte traditionnel d'Amon. Pour Reeves, il reste notam- son essor qu'à la XIe dynastie. Il devient le dieu dynastique par excellence, à la fois en-
ment à découvrir la tombe de la mère de Toutankhamon, dont l'identité reste controversée : raciné dans la région thébaine, au lieu saint de Karnak, et universellement représenté en
la première et célèbre femme d'Akhenaton, Nefertiti, sa seconde épouse, la princesse Egypte, assimilé à Rê sous sa forme d'Amon-Rê roi des dieux (Amonrasonther).
étrangère, Kiya, ou encore peut-être, Maya, la nourrice de Toutankhamon. Il est presque toujours représenté sous la forme d'un homme portant une couronne à
A l’occaion de la fête de hautes plumes. Peu présent dans les mythes et les contes, c'est un dieu très conceptuel,
Pas de Momie une forme d'incarnation divine de la royauté. La propagande royale le présente le père du
Les archéologues qui avaient ouvert, le mercredi 28 juin 2006 le dernier cercueil de la roi à travers la théogamie, ainsi que le montrent le scènes du temple d'Hatshepsout à Deir
l’assomption invoquons nouvelle tombe découverte dans la Vallée des Rois à Louxor ont découvert des fleurs et el-Bahari. Comme à l'Ancien Empire avec Rê ou Horus, mais peut-être plus encore, le
des bijoux mais pas de momies. culte rendu à Amon-Rê est d'abord conçu pour exalter la royauté. C'est de lui que le roi
tous ensemble la Sainte Les brassées de fleurs trois fois millénaires et les colliers royaux de grande valeur ont été tient sa légitimité au Nouvel Empire.
découverts dans le septième cerceuil, dont le Secrétaire du Conseil supérieur des anti- Cela explique toute l'importance du clergé d'Amon-Rê, notamment du grand prêtre, à la
Vierge Marie quités égyptienne a soulevé le couvercle. tête du vaste domaine d'Amon. Certes, il est normalement nommé par le roi. Toutefois, les
Une équipe d'archéologues américains de l'Université de Memphis conduite par Otto généalogies font apparaître une tendance à l'hérédité des fonctions. C'est peut-être en
-Reine de la paix-pour Schaden avait découvert en février une tombe royale dans la Vallée des Rois près de
Louxor, pour la première fois depuis celle de Toutankhamon en 1922.
réaction à cette aristocratie sacerdotale qu'Amenhotep IV effectue sa révolution religieuse
pour devenir Akhénaton. Il entend éradiquer le culte d'Amon au profit d'Aton, le disque so-
En dépit de l'absence de momies dans les six premiers cercueils ouverts, l'espérance laire. Akhénaton se réapproprie ainsi sa légitimité en inventant un culte encore plus centré
qu’il existe une violence s'étaient répandue que l'ultime sépulture contienne la momie de la mère ou de la femme de autour de la personne royale. La nouvelle religion ne survit pas beaucoup à son fondateur,
Toutankhamon. Toutefois, selon les archéologues de l'Université de Memphis, il est vrai- et le culte d'Amon et des autres dieux est restauré par Toutankhamon.
de l’amour dans semblable que la nouvelle tombe soit liée à celle de Toutankhamon. C'est une allée de criosphinx (lions à tête de béliers) qui accueille le visiteur à l'em-
Cela faisait plus de quatre-vingt ans, depuis la découverte de la sépulture de Toutankhamon barcadère du temple de Karnak. Cependant, le caractère éminemment royal du dieu ne
tous les endroits où il y a en 1922, que les archéologues n'avaient pas mis au jour un nouveau tombeau dans la Vallée fait pas que servir la monarchie. La religion populaire l'assimile, et les fidèles adressent
des Rois. L'année dernière, lorsque des scientifiques américains trouvèrent KV63, une tombe leur prières à Amon comme un recours ultime et parfait des turpitudes de ce monde. Amon
des tensions actuelles: enfouie dans une falaise de la nécropole, nombreux étaient ceux qui espéraient y voir reposer
la momie de la femme de Toutankhamon, ou encore celle de sa mère.
est " celui qui écoute les prières ", le " vizir des pauvres " qui juge en toute équité et ne se
laisse pas corrompre. Piété personnelle et justice oraculaire se développent au cours du
Mais, à défaut de momie, ce sont des colliers de fleurs et du matériel d'embaumement Nouvel Empire et de la XXIe dynastie.
Le Liban, Israël, qui emplissaient le dernier sarcophage... A défaut de momie, ce sont des colliers de fleurs Amon est aussi le dieu du vent, et les bateliers l'invoquent. Son nom est souvent inscrit
tissées, des objets religieux et du matériel d'embaumement qui ont été découverts dans le sur le gouvernail des navires.
La Palestine et L’Irak septième et dernier sarcophage de KV63. Les premiers archéologues et journalistes ont Il est "l'unique", qui a créé les dieux, les hommes et toutes choses dans les temps pri-
obtenu enfin l'autorisation de pénétrer dans KV63, le 63ème caveau découvert dans la Val- mordiaux. Il assimile les cosmogonies memphites, héliopolitaines et hermopolitaines pour
pour que la paix règne lée des Rois, en Egypte. Mis au jour l'année dernière par une équipe de l'Université de s'affirmer en démiurge parfait et universel.
Memphis qui travaillait sur un site proche, la tombe a livré ses premiers secrets au mois de A Thèbes, Amon-Rê est la divinité principale du fameux temple de Karnak, le plus vaste
février, lorsqu'une entrée y a été pratiquée : Ici, point de pièces en enfilade ou de somp- sanctuaire de l'Egypte ancienne, constamment agrandi par les pharaons du Nouvel Em-
dans le monde entier. tueuses fresques murales, mais une modeste chambre funéraire de 2,5 mètres par 4,5, pire à l'époque Lagide. Son avatar Amon d'Opet est le seigneur du temple de Louxor (Ipet-
contenant pas moins de sept sarcophages. Résit, "le harem du Sud").
Les destins
Cinéma
agenda
Ahla Al-Awqat (les temps heureux) est un film de la jeune
réalisatrice Hala Khalil. Tous les rôles principaux du film sont
de l'amour
incarnés par des femmes, avec Hind Sabri, Mena Chalabi et
An-al echq wal hawa - A propos de
Hanan Tork. le film traite du quotidien de ces trois pro-
tagonistes dont le destin joue un rôle principal dans leur vie. la passion et de l'amour - qui traite
Le 24 août, à 21h au théâtre Al-Guéneina, au jardin al-Azhar. Ahmad Al-Saqa et Mena Chalabi
d'autant d'histoires sentimentales,
dans une Scène du film “A propos de
est actuellement projeté dans
Chants la passion et de l'amour
Musique légère c'est ce que propose la soprano Névine Al- toutes les salles de cinéma.
louba pour la soirée du 20 août, à 21h, au théâtre en plein air
à l'Opéra du Caire. Diplômée du Conservatoire du Caire, Né-
vine Allouba qui a fait des études d'opéra et de pédagogie vo-
cale et a obtenu son doctorat en 1988, jouit d'un répertoire Névine Lameï
s'étend de Haendel à Menotti, comportant une grande variété (Bouchra), dans un mariage traditionnel. D'autre
du lieder, des oratorios, de la musique de chambre et de
toutes les compositions lyriques égyptiennes pour des voix
féminines.
An-al echq wal hawa -A propos de la passion part, Alia allait se marier avec son voisin qui
l´aimait depuis leur enfance,cependant elle rompt
et de l'amour- de Kamla Abou Zikri. Du titre du avec cette relation. Alia et Omar n'arrivait pas
film, tout spectateur s'attend à voir un film qui oublier leur amour, cependant, ce dernier épouse
Comédie dramatique traite d'amour et de romantisme. Alors il s'agit sa secrétaire Mena Chalabi et réussit à oublier sa
Michael Johnson et sa soeur, Caroline, reviennent dans la plus de relations humaines déchirées entre bien-aimée Alia. Le film soutient-il le succès d'un
ferme de leur enfance régler la succession de leur mère, amants, voire amoureux. Trahison, passion, amour, routine, oubli, déception, mariage traditionnel, celui de la raison?
Francesca. ils découvrent tout un faiblesse, abandon crainte d'engagement…Autant de qualificatifs d'amour, Touché et ému par le jeu d'action des protagonistes, tout spectateur se sen-
pan de sa vie, ignoré de tous, que confrontent actuellement les couples amoureux dans la société, sont in- tira confus de juger qui d'entre ces protagonistes a raison car, An-al echq wal
intense et inoubliable liaison terprétés par les protagonistes du film, le comédien Ahmad Al-Saqqa, avec hawa est ce film qui traite d'autant d'histoires de la réalité.
avec un photographe de pas- Mona Zaki, Mena Chalabi, Bouchra et Tareq Loutfi. Le scénariste du film Tamer Habib, n'a pas voulu, à la fin du film, ébranler
sage. Inspiré du roman du même Loin de ses films d'action, comme Mafia, Titou ou Africano dans lesquels son spectateur, il a voulu seulement, à travers le fait de présenter divers ex-
nom de Robert James Walter, Sur Ahmad Al-Saqqa joue le rôle de l'aventurier ou du chevalier qui jouit de cette emples d'histoires d'amours réussies, de mettre fin à toute relation in-
la route de Madison est un film sur le fougue de la jeunesse, la sympathie et le physique qu'il faut, dans An al-echq correcte dès son début. Il ne reste qu'à juger du film. L'homme parvient-il un
désir, sentiment irrépressible, attirance wal hawa, Al-Saqqa possède réellement les qualités d'une star, dans un rôle jour à oublier son passé, son premier amour, et à vivre son présent. Bref,
naturelle qui pousserait une mère de fa- qui lui est complètement nouveau. Celui du passionné, toujours en quête être plus réaliste, dans un monde où les valeurs humaines risquent un jour
mille irréprochable à avoir une liaison avec d'amour. Mais quel genre d'amour ? le premier amour, amour pour oublier sa de disparaître. Le film a-t-il réussi à transmettre son message ? Ce mes-
un homme de passage simplement. un bien-aimée ou encore un amour traditionnel ! sage est-il convainquant pour tout spectateur? Si le film dans presque
écart de conduite, irrémédiable mais pas ir- Le film entreprend une histoire d'amour entre Omar (Ahmad Al-Saqqa) et toutes les scènes de déchirement d'amour dans lesquelles, les pro-
réversible, qui est avant tout une échappée belle, Alia (Mona Zaki). Omar qui décide de se marier avec Alia, ne tarde pas à bris- tagonistes pleurent, de la même façon, avec le même degré de chagrin, par
entière, passionnelle et immortelle, où le désir ne serait que er cette relation, lorsque il se rend compte que la soeur de sa bien-aimée tra- échec en amour, le film vise à la fin, à figurer, uniquement sur scène, les re-
secret bien gardé, un fantasme qui révèle le bonheur quo- vaille en tant que servante dans un des clubs de nuit. Omar cherche un autre lations humaines réussies entre couples amoureux. Une autre manière de
tidien. avec Clint Eastwood. amour qui convient aux us et coutumes de la société où il vit. Il épouse Esmat céder optimisme, espoir et survie.
✂