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Cartouche Dimanche
Equipe de rédaction:
Abdel Massih Felli
Dalia Victor
22 Octobre 2006
Michael Victor
Névine Lameï 12 Baba 1723
Caroline Onsy, Nermine Onsy Rédacteur en chef Directrice de rédaction 29 Ramadan 1427
Mise en page: Youssef Sidhom Laura Hakim 1ère ANNEE
Héba Adel NUMERO 25
Révision:
Rafik Baracat
Condoleezza Rice, en tournée en Asie,
accroît la pression sur Pyongyang
Michael Victor tre" autres essais, a estimé un député sud-coréen
membre d'une commission parlementaire sur les ser-
La secrétaire d'Etat américaine Condoleezza Rice vices de renseignement.
L'élu estime que la nouvelle explosion aura lieu avant
a commencé mercredi à Tokyo une tournée en Asie et le 7 novembre, jour des élections de mi-mandat aux
en Russie en réclamant une application "rapide" des Etats-Unis.
sanctions contre la Corée du Nord et en réaffirmant la
volonté des Etats-Unis de défendre son allié japonais Rice à Pékin
contre toute menace. Condoleezza Mme Rice a appelé vendredi Pékin à la mise en
De son côté, M. Aso a appelé la Corée du Nord à la oeuvre scrupuleuse des sanctions décrétées par l'ONU
retenue au moment où la communauté internationale Rice reçue en représailles à l'essai nucléaire nord-coréen, lors de
soupçonne le régime communiste de Pyongyang de à Tokyo par l'étape chinoise d'une tournée en Asie et en Russie.
préparer un deuxième essai nucléaire. Selon la télévi- son Mme Rice a également appelé la Corée du Nord à re-
sion américaine NBC, l'armée nord-coréenne aurait homologue venir immédiatement et sans conditions à la table des
prévenu la Chine que d'autres essais sont à venir. négociations sur ses programmes nucléaires.
"La Corée du Nord doit se garder d'actions qui ne fe- japonais Arrivée vendredi matin, Mme Rice devait rencontrer
raient qu'envenimer la situation", a averti M. Aso. Taro Aso dans la journée le président Hu Jintao, le Premier mini-
Mme Rice et son hôte ont exhorté la Corée du stre Wen Jiabao, ainsi que l'émissaire Tang Jiaxuan,
Nord à revenir "sans condition" à la table des né- de retour de Corée du Nord après s'être entretenu jeu-
gociations multipartites sur le démantèlement de di à Pyongyang avec le numéro un du régime nord-
son programme nucléaire, qui sont au point mort de- coréen Kim Jong-il.
puis un an. Li Zhaoxing a réaffirmé que son pays allait mettre en
M. Aso a souligné que "les sanctions ne sont pas un oeuvre les dispositions de la résolution du Conseil de sé-
but en soi, le but est d'en finir avec le programme nu- curité adoptée il y a près d'une semaine après l'explosion
cléaire" de Pyongyang. intercoréennes à l'épreuve de force et à la guerre". négociation ouverte", a-t-elle assuré. "Nous ne cher- du premier essai nucléaire nord-coréen le 9 octobre.
"Nous devons maintenir ouverte une fenêtre de di- Le numéro un nord-coréen Kim Jong-Il a fait sa pre- chons pas l'escalade", a-t-elle dit. "En tant que membre des Nations unies et membre
alogue et appeler à un retour inconditionnel aux né- mière apparition publique depuis l'essai nucléaire du 9 La Maison-Blanche a pour sa part réfuté jeudi essay- permanent du Conseil de sécurité, la Chine, comme
gociations à six", qui rassemblent les deux Corées, la octobre, en assistant à une cérémonie marquant le er de "mettre à genoux" la Corée du Nord et être au toujours, continuera à mettre en oeuvre ses obligations
Chine, les Etats-Unis, la Russie et le Japon, a estimé 80e anniversaire du "Syndicat contre l'impérialisme" seuil de la guerre avec elle, soulignant au contraire les internationales afférentes et exercera le rôle qui lui re-
M. Aso. fondé par son père, le "Grand Leader" Kim Il-Sung. efforts diplomatiques en cours pour ramener Pyon- vient dans ce processus", a-t-il dit.
La secrétaire d'Etat a par ailleurs réitéré la solidité Cet anniversaire a été célébré par une marche aux gyang à la table de négociations. Pékin et Séoul craignent que les arraisonnements de
de l'alliance de défense avec le Japon et assuré que flambeaux à Pyongyang. navires nord-coréens déclenchent une guerre ouverte.
les Etats-Unis ne lésineraient pas sur les moyens pour Mme Rice s'est entretenue jeudi avec le Premier Un emissaire chinois a Pyongyang. Pyongyang avait averti qu'elle infligerait des "coups im-
défendre leur partenaire en cas d'attaque. ministre japonais Shinzo Abe avant de s'envoler pour Toujours sur le front diplomatique, un émissaire chi- placables" à quiconque violerait sa souveraineté.
"Je veux que tout le monde, y compris les Nord- Séoul, où elle a plaidé pour une plus grande fermeté nois s'est entretenu jeudi matin à Pyongyang avec le Les Etats-Unis surveillent d'ailleurs un navire "sus-
Coréens, comprenne bien que les Etats-Unis agiront de la part des Sud-Coréens face à leurs voisins du numéro un du régime nord-coréen Kim Jong-il. pect" qui a quitté un port nord-coréen, a indiqué jeudi
en totale conformité avec leurs engagements de dé- Nord. Le conseiller d'Etat Tang Jiaxuan "était porteur d'un un responsable américain. Selon la chaîne de télévi-
fense, tels que stipulés dans le traité de défense mu- message du président" chinois Hu Jintao, a indiqué sion CBS, les services américains de renseignement
tuelle" nippo-américain, a déclaré Mme Rice. Rice à Séoul Liu Jianchao, porte-parole du ministère chinois des Af- soupçonnent ce navire de transporter des équipements
"Les Etats-Unis ont la volonté et la capacité de met- Mme Rice et son homologue sud-coréen ont averti faires étrangères. "Il s'agit d'une visite significative sur militaires.
tre en oeuvre la totalité, je dis bien la totalité, de leurs jeudi à Séoul qu'un deuxième essai nucléaire nord- fond de changements importants dans la péninsule Mais vendredi, Li Zhaoxing a appelé toutes les par-
moyens de dissuasion et de sécurité pour remplir leurs coréen entraînerait des "conséquences plus graves" coréenne", a ajouté le porte-parole. ties à garder leur calme.
engagements à l'égard du Japon", a-t-elle promis. tout en affirmant que la porte de la diplomatie restait M. Tang était arrivé mercredi en Corée du Nord à la Un membre de la délégation de Mme Rice a indiqué
Le Japon est sous parapluie nucléaire américain de- ouverte. tête d'une délégation de hauts responsables, dont Wu n'attendre "aucune avancée" lors de cette étape chi-
puis les années 1960 et M. Aso a répété que son pays La tournée de Mme Rice a pour but de vaincre les Dawei, négociateur en chef sur le nucléaire nord- noise. Evoquant la visite à Pyongyang de l'émissaire
n'avait pas l'intention de se doter de la bombe at- réticences, de Pékin et Séoul en particulier, à ap- coréen. La Chine est une alliée clef du régime com- chinois, il a affirmé que Kim Jong-il avait fait attendre
omique malgré la crise actuelle. pliquer dans leur totalité les sanctions décrétées sa- muniste nord-coréen et est considérée comme le pays l'envoyé pendant 24 heures avant de le recevoir.
De son côté, la Corée du Nord a poursuivi son es- medi par le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU pour punir ayant le plus d'influence sur lui. "Les Coréens du Nord ne sont pas dans l'esprit de re-
calade verbale. Pyongyang après son essai nucléaire du 9 octobre. Le déplacement de la délégation chinoise intervient venir aux discussions et ils cherchent seulement l'es-
Le quotidien Rodong Sinmun, organe du Parti des Mme Rice a tenté de rassurer son homologue en af- au moment où s'accentuent les craintes d'un calade", a estimé ce membre de la délégation.
Travailleurs au pouvoir, a estimé que la décision de firmant que les Etats-Unis n'avaient aucune volonté de deuxième essai nucléaire, après l'explosion de la pre- Mme Rice s'est rendu ensuite à Moscou, l'un des au-
Séoul de se joindre aux sanctions décrétées par l'ONU "dicter aux gouvernements ce qu'ils ont à faire" ou mière bombe atomique nord-coréenne le 9 octobre. tres rares pays à entretenir de bonnes relations avec
constituait "un acte de trahison qui mène les relations d'exacerber les tensions. "Nous laissons la voie de la La Corée du Nord devrait procéder à "trois ou qua- la dictature de Kim Jong-Il.
En Bref L'Actualité dans
Egypte la Presse Française
La découverte la
semaine dernière
d’un nouveau cas
de contamination
humaine par le vi-
rus H5N1 en
Egypte inquiète
l’Organisation Mon-
diale de la Santé.
L’Egypte est le Egypte: 25 ans après son ar-
pays africain le plus durement frappé par le virus de la rivée au pouvoir, Moubarak in-
grippe aviaire, et la contamination d’une nouvelle victime
humaine de cette maladie qui touche essentiellement les oi-
carne toujours la stabilité
seaux et en particulier les volailles contribue à faire croitre
L'Egypte du président Hosni Moubarak incarne de-
l’inquiétude de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. Avec
puis un quart de siècle la stabilité dans une région en
15 victimes humaines rapportées à ce jour, toutes les autres
permanente ébullition mais semble aujourd'hui minée
étant tombées malades entre mars et mai 2006, l’Egypte
par l'islamisme et la question sociale. C'est il y a 25
est, en dehors du continent asiatique, le pays qui compte le
ans, après l'assassinat le 6 octobre 1981 de Anouar
plus grand nombre de cas humains de grippe aviaire.
el-Sadate, l'homme de la paix avec Israël, que Hosni
Moubarak, également issu du sérail militaire, s'est his-
Israël sé à la tête du pays phare du monde arabe.
C'est la première apparition publique du président israé- Au delà des épreuves, dont six tentatives d'as-
lien Moshé Katsav depuis que la police a recommandé sassinat, c'est la stabilité d'abord, mais seulement la
qu'il soit poursuivi pour viol et harcèlement sexuel. L'acte stabilité, que Hosni Moubarak, âgé 78 ans, a offert à
d'accusation pour lequel le chef de l'Etat est passible de 3 son pays, tout en l'ancrant dans une impopulaire al- Officiellement interdite, mais tolérée, la confrérie s'est rôle que pourrait jouer l'armée, le sujet numéro un
à 16 ans de prison devrait être soumis au procureur gén- liance avec l'Occident. Si de remarquables réformes donnée pour slogan "l'Islam est la solution". Son cour- nourrissant les spéculations de la presse. Hosni Mou-
éral d'ici 2 à 3 semaines. C'est lui qui décidera s'il engage économiques ont été lancées sous son règne, as- ant le plus politique, qui se veut moderniste, reste la barak, considéré officiellement comme le "héros" de la
des poursuites contre Moshé Katsav. Reste qu'avec ce surant une croissance annuelle de 6%, les questions cible du régime, qui en a emprisonné les chefs de file. guerre d'octobre 1973 contre Israël, se voit aujourd'hui
scandale, la question de sa succession est déjà évoquée. clefs restant en suspens portent sur la transition pol- reprocher la perte de prestige de l'Egypte par un front
La presse liste les candidats potentiels. Premiers d'entre itique et la fracture sociale. Depuis son arrivée au Exaspéré par une volée de critiques américaines, d'opposition cimenté par le nationalisme. La guerre du
eux, l'écrivain américain et prix Nobel de la paix Elie Wie- pouvoir, la population de l'Egypte a doublé pour at- Hosni Moubarak a récemment sèchement rejeté les Liban, et son dénouement d'apparence favorable au
sel, 78 ans. Il aurait déjà les faveurs d'Ehud Olmert, le teindre 72 millions d'habitants, le chômage toucherait leçons de démocratie de Washington. Une accéléra- chef du Hezbollah chiite, Hassan Nasrallah a fait res-
Premier ministre israélien. Autre personnalité citée, en- moins d'un actif sur dix, selon les chiffres officiels. tion des réformes, selon lui, n'aboutirait en Egypte surgir en Egypte le spectre encombrant de Nasser
core un Nobel de la Paix, l'actuel vice-Premier ministre Mais les experts indépendants l'estiment à trois fois qu'à une chose : "le chaos". Et c'est à son premier dont l'héritage avait déjà été renié par Sadate.
Shimon Peres, 83 ans. En Israël, le poste de chef d'Etat plus important. ministre, Ahmed Nazif, qu'il a laissé le soin de précis- "Si Nasrallah est devenu un héros de la résistance,
est surtout représentatif et honorifique. Selon la Banque mondiale, 43,9% des Egyptiens vi- er que la démocratie ne conduirait aujourd'hui à rien c'est aussi parce que Moubarak n'a pu être un héros
vent avec moins de deux dollars par jour, n'ayant d'autre qu'à amener les islamistes au pouvoir. "Quand de la paix, l'Egypte est orpheline d'un grand homme
France clairement pas profité d'une redistribution des rich- le processus commence, certaines choses se pro- comme Nasser", estime Amr Choubaki, un chercheur
Michèle Alliot-Marie, esses ayant permis l'émergence d'une classe moy- duisent, vous voyez par exemple les islamistes gagner du Centre d'études d'al-Ahram. Avec Israël, la paix
la ministre de la Dé- enne urbaine. M. Moubarak a été élu, il y a un an, jus- des positions au Parlement ici, en Palestine et en Irak, s'est maintenue, mais fraîchement, sauf pour les af-
fense, sera auditionnée qu'en 2011. Mais les signes s'accumulent d'un aussi nous commençons à réévaluer ce qui se passe", faires, qui prospèrent dans l'ombre pour ne pas irriter
comme témoin dans possible d'un scénario dynastique, plaçant son fils ca- a-t-il dit. "La question de la succession est capitale, et l'opinion publique.
l'affaire Clearstream, det Gamal, 42 ans, en position de lui succéder. le reste fait partie du jeu", estime Moustafa Kamel al- Les importations de l'Egypte ont explosé de 146%
qui avait provoqué une Reste l'hypothéque des Frères musulmans, le Sayyed, professeur à l'Université américaine au Caire, du premier trimestre 2005 au premier trimestre 2006,
crise politique au prin- mouvement islamiste fondé dans les années 1920, de- pour qui "Américains et Egyptiens sont condamnés à selon les statistiques israéliennes, celles des services
temps dernier. Le con- venu depuis les législatives 2005, le principal groupe s'entendre" égyptiens étant muettes sur ce flux
seil des ministres a d'opposition parlementaire, avec un député sur cinq. Une des plus grandes inconnues porte aussi sur le d'échange.
donné son feu vert. Alliot Marie s'est dite réjouie. L'ancien
premier ministre Jean-Pierre Raffarin devrait lui aussi être
convoqué comme témoin par les deux juges chargés de tarif d’abonnement: Egypte:65 L.E - Pays arabes: 150 L.E - L’europe: 90 dollars - L’amérique: 100 dollars - L’australie: 120 dollars américain
l'affaire.
✂
22.
✂
Watani Francophone Sunday
22 October 2006
Editor-in-chief Managing Editor 12 Baba 1723
Youssef Sidhom Samia Sidhom 29 Ramadan 1427
YEAR 6
ISSUE 297
Page 5 - 6
Editorial
Problems on hold
Police State
in court
Youssef Sidhom
It is self-evident that security apparatuses should
posses the advanced skills and facilities required to
enforce the law and refer lawbreakers to justice. The
full separation of State authorities should provide for
the control and monitoring required to hold security
men accountable in case of failure or error.
The task of tracking criminals and bringing them
to justice is far from easy. Wisdom, skill and soph- Clockwise from left: Father Samaan, and MPs Boghdadi and Ragab addressing the Muqqattam congregation; Nimr Khalaf;
istication are crucial to the process if people are to Thanksgiving prayers at Muqqattam; Botrous Makram
feel secure that the real culprits are referred to
justice when a crime is committed. Security app-
aratuses should furnish irrefutable proof through
Out at last
hard work, careful investigation, and unquestionable
impartiality. It is inconceivable that they should
hastily level accusations at any one for the sake of
proving their alleged competence at tracking crim-
inals, and in so doing, resort to practices against
laws and human rights, such as terrifying and tor-
turing suspects, fabricating evidence, and obtaining
fake confessions. Security apparatuses sometimes
appear to have no qualms whatsoever with pres- The church bells of St Samaan al-Kharraz, St Simon the Nader Shukry Police
suring suspects to confess to crimes they never did Tanner’s monastery in Muqqattam hill overlooking Cairo "It was obvious to us our sister was being kept against her
commit through arresting their relatives or humili- chimed joyfully in the first hours of last Wednesday to seven men were freed last Wednesday. will, Makram continued, so we decided to report to the
ating them. herald the release of the seven Copts who had been Father Samaan led the congregation in an ardent prayer police. As we turned to go we found a policeman heading
Immune to accountability, security apparatuses detained by the State Security Investigation (SSI) ap- of thanksgiving, saying God had responded to the towards us. ‘Where are you going?’ he asked. ‘To the police
persist in these lawless practices, boasting that paratus since 30 September. At around 1:00am all seven prayers and fast of Muqqattam’s Copts. MP Boghdadi, station,’ I answered. ‘Well, the police station has come to
security could never be achieved without such arrived at the monastery grounds accompanied by Father who had staunchly supported the Muqattam people you,’ he said. Upon which the police officer of Marg police
methods. They do not appear to realise the extent Samaan, head priest of the monastery churches. Even throughout the crisis, said that these people had indeed station arrived, and ordered his men to beat us up with
of harm they inflict upon society through their though termed a monastery, St Samaan’s is practically a worked a miracle by refusing to give up their rights or sticks and clubs, amid the amazement of all around us. We
ominous practices and disdain of law and justice. compound of churches hewn out of the limestone rocks of yield to oppression. The seven men, he said, were were taken to the police station where there were several
Worse, however, is that security apparatuses steadi- the Muqqattam hill, and its congregation is composed of, released a fortnight following their arrest which, ac high ranking officers to question us as though we were
ly lose their skills in investigation, scrutiny, ev- in the major part, Cairo’s garbage collectors. cording to the emergency law, could only have been terrorists. We were searched, beaten, and abused in filthy
idence collection, and chasing criminals, and are no contested 30 days later. language. Then Mohamed Zaki came in looking as though
longer trusted or counted upon to maintain law and Dimiana’s story he were the Great Victorious. He looked at me and said:
order. Maher and Botrous Makram from the village of al-Nazla Only through the president ‘I’ll teach you how to tow the line, or else leave the whole
It does not help at all that the prosecution does not in Fayoum 100km southeast Cairo, accompanied by their Father Botrous, another priest at Muqqattam, noted that country.’ I could hear my sister crying incessantly outside,
question the defective performance of the security relative Shehata Girgis Shehata and four other men who the detainees had been severely wronged, their only and was not allowed even to see her. Is it a crime in this
apparatuses. It takes for granted the fabricated serve at the Muqqattam monastery were arrested on 29 crime having been a persistence in exercising their rights. country for a man to meet his sister?
evidence provided by the police and decides to refer September while they were trying to meet Dimiana, the For this, he said, they were humiliated, imprisoned, "The following day we were brought before the prosecu-
suspects to court accordingly. To guarantee sus- Makrams’ 23-year-old sister who had disappeared last abused, and threatened. It took an appeal to President tion. At first we were not allowed to answer the questions
pects’ rights and the judiciary’s respect, the prosecu- July. Back then they reported her missing, upon which Mubarak to have them freed. Can Copts only attain their we were asked; they wrote down the answers they saw fit.
tion should carefully investigate the clues and con- they were informed by the police that she had converted to rights in their homeland through presidential inter- We were charged with intended murder and were required
fessions submitted by the police, and should demand Islam and married one Mohamed al-Sayed Zaki, and noth- vention? he asked. He joined countless others when he to admit that some knives they had brought in belonged to
more investigation if the one at hand proves in- ing more was heard of her. Last September, the family demanded a fair, humane handling of cases of dis- us. But then the head of the prosecution came in and heard
sufficient. was contacted by a man called Mohamed Abdel-Alim who appearance of Coptic girls, in line with the principles of our case out in a very respectable manner. He dropped all
Every now and then a case exposes that significant claimed he could guide to Dimiana’s whereabouts in equality and full citizenship and human rights for all. the charges and ordered our release."
feature of the police we live under. When sectarian exchange for LE100,000. After some haggling he agreed Watani talked to Maher Makram. "When my sister dis-
violence claimed the lives of 21 Copts in Kosheh on to LE20,000 when he found the family was incapable of appeared last July, he said, and we were informed she had In prison
the eve of 2000, the court acquitted all 96 de- more. LE5,000 were paid directly against a receipt, and married and converted to Islam, we were not allowed to Botrous Makram took over from his brother and con-
fendants. Copts were outraged and claimed the rul- LE15,000 were pledged once Dimiana was retrieved. The see or contact her. We thus felt she must have been tinued the story. "We were directly re-arrested and placed
ing was sectarian-biased. Yet the legal reasoning of Cairo address at which she was to be collected lay in the abducted, but there was nothing we could do, even though in a tiny room. We had to pay anywhere between LE30
the court disclosed amazing discrepancies in the wit- vicinity of Muqqattam monastery, so the Makram brothers we did try to find out where she could be. Then along and LE45 every time any of us needed to go to the toilet.
nesses’ testimonies, contradictory confessions and and Shehata asked Father Samaan for help. It was thus that came Mohamed Abdel-Alim and haggled with us over a Six days later we were moved to Borg al-Arab prison
false conclusions. The Kosheh case bared the the four Muqqattam men Nimr Khalaf, William Abdel- sum of money to tell us of her whereabouts. We headed, where we were ordered to take off our clothes and left to
disgraceful shortcoming of the security apparatus’ Malek, Ishaq Aziz, and Tadros Badie accompanied the together with the other men, to the address he gave us, spend the night on the chilly floor in our underwear. The
performance when it stated that it found not one Makrams and Shehata to the assigned address, where they which lay in an overcrowded popular district with no following day however, Captain Mohamed Shafiq came
irrefutable evidence against any of the defendants. were arrested and charged with intended abduction and street signs or house numbers. When we asked for Zaki’s in, talked to us kindly, provided us with clothes, and
Therefore the case that caught Egypt’s—and the murder. Even though the prosecution dropped all the house it turned out everyone in the street knew about our treated us with respect. But we were not allowed to leave
world’s—attention closed with no killers held, and charges against them and ordered them released the fol- sister and they told us ‘She came of her own accord.’ I our cell, even thought the other prisoners were allowed
the security apparatus was never held accountable lowing day, they were detained by the SSI and sent to said all we wanted was to be assured of that; once we out from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
for the shortcoming. Borg al-Arab prison near Alexandria. could hear her say so, she was free to do as she wished. "The day we were released we were taken over to the
It seems that the security apparatus is quite content One of the neighbours helped me get into contact with SSI office. Our heads were hooded and we were brutally
with these work methods. A case in point is the No yielding to oppression Dimiana over my cell phone. I told her not to worry about beaten and humiliated with the filthiest abuse, and
Beni-Mazar massacre which took place in Upper Thousands of Copts staged a sit-in and demonstrated at any maltreatment if she wished to come back; not a hair of threatened."
Egypt last year, in which ten people were killed and St Samaan’s to protest the detention of the seven men and her head will be touched. She broke down and cried say- Aziz, Khalaf, and Badie had similar stories to tell.
their dead bodies mutilated. The horrific crime demand their release. MPs Heidar Boghdadi and Moh- ing: ‘O my brother I am lost. Leave me alone; I’m no Shehata summed it all up in a few words: "We went out to
shook Egypt because of its exceptional brutality and amed Ragab joined Father Samaan’s efforts to have the good now.’ At that point I could hear her husband shout- look for a sister and ended up being treated as criminals.
inhumanity. In a few days the security apparatus men released, contacting top officials—up to the pres- ing, and she said: ‘Let me talk to my brother’ but the We have been persecuted and oppressed in our own
announced it had arrested the criminal and referred idency—in the process. After several postponements, the connection was cut. homeland."
him to the prosecutor, who lost no time in referring
him to court. Last week the defendant was acquitted,
meaning that the real criminal or criminals are run-
ning free. The legal reasoning of the court explained
that it believed the defendant had been forced to
confess to committing the crime even though it was Eight blind Egyptian girls, mem-
practically impossible for him to commit it. Apart bers of the "Heart of Jesus" choir,
for the defendant’s confession, the court said, there were back in Cairo earlier this
was no single evidence to prove he committed the
crime. Moreover, it said, the confession was invalid
since it was obtained through psychological and
Back
Back month following a tour of the East
Coast of the United States where
they sang for love, peace, Egypt
physical pressures on the defendant and his family. and their Church. Conducted by Ms
The defendant admitted to sometimes undergoing a
psychological condition that drove him to kill, but
the psychological committee that investigated him
from
from Soheir al-Qommos Boulos the choir
performed to Coptic Orthodox con-
gregations in Jersey City, New
negated any signs of mental illness and rated his IQ York, Washington DC, and Mary-
as below average. It is clear, the court declared, that land. The young women had left
the defendant’s confessions were dictated, and there
was no evidence of mental or psychological illness.
Because the papers before the court contained no
the
the Egypt with the blessings of Pope
Shenouda III and Father Boulos Sa-
maan who supervises the choir, and
sustainable evidence against the defendant, the court were warmly received in the US by
acquitted him.
Our society’s reaction to the acquittal of the de-
fendant in the Beni-Mazar crime will determine if
US
US Anba David, Coptic Orthodox
bishop of the East Coast.
we are content to live under a police State. The real Lucy Awad
crime however, is that committed by the security
men since their arrival at the scene and until they re-
ferred the suspect to the prosecution.
N Help for small businesses
The Tunis-based African Development
Italy in Toshka
A joint Egyptian-Italian project to establish
and Libya. Egypt’s oil and natural gas re-
serves have jumped from 3.7 billion bar-
survey on the archaeological valleys and
hills on Luxor’s West Bank has unearthed a
is well preserved and has a brick wall. In the
Valley of the Queens the mission discovered
Bank (ADB) earlier this month approved experimental farms in Toshka, south of As- rels in 1981 to 15.8 billion this year. significant number of clay potsherds dating five caves containing Coptic potsherds, and an-
E grants and soft loans worth LE500 million
to support small-scale projects in Egypt. In
wan, will be implemented within five years, from the Coptic or Late Roman period (451-
641 AD). The survey was attempting to
other at the edge of the rocky outcrop on the
Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Mah- Banks to merge valley’s northwest side decorated with graffiti.
W a statement, the bank said the sum would be
allocated to Egypt’s Social Fund for De-
moud Abu-Zeid says. The farms will serve to
select the best vegetable, fruit and cereal crops
The technical and legal merger of Banque
du Caire and Banque Misr will be announced
draw an archaeological map for the sites
used by the Copts, using GPS technique, as Exports to Britain
S velopment (SFD) which supports small and
micro projects.
to plant in Toshka. A joint permanent Egyp-
tian-Italian unit for consultation and in-
by 31 December, Banque Misr chairman
Mohamed Barakat says. After the merger the
well as to document and study all the in-
scriptions and potteries found. In Haggag
Valley, the team located six Coptic ar-
Egyptian exports to Britain have in-
creased 64 per cent in the first half of 2006,
formation will be set up, as well as four mod-
L Gitex Dubai 2006
Thirty-five Egyptian companies will take
ern systems for sprinkler and furrow irrigation
networks.
budget of Banque Misr—the first ever
Egyptian bank, founded by Talaat Harb in
chaeological sites, one of which includes a
cave with bent corridors covered with gyp-
Egyptian plenipotentiary ambassador
Mohamed Al-Aref Suleiman said. He
1920 and nationalised by Gamal Abdel- added that non-petroleum exports, incl-
I part in Gitex Dubai 2006 next month. Egyp-
tian software will be intensively promoted,
Upper Egyptian oil
Nasser in 1960—will reach some LE160
billion, and its assets will reach LE6 billion.
sum and bearing Coptic inscriptions. The
other five sites contain a large number of uding agricultural and textile products went
up 50 per cent, and fertiliser exports alone
and will occupy a distinguished place in the clay fragments and ruined structures that
N Egyptian pavilion which will cover a 350 cu-
bic metre area, sixty more than last year. Gulf
Seven agreements have been signed with
international companies and another five are Coptic artefacts found
were possibly used as fortresses or houses.
At the summit of this valley two caves were
rose 358 per cent. The trade balance boast-
ed some 68 million pounds sterling surplus
E Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX)
is among the world’s top three IT exhibitions.
in the pipeline to dig 46 oil wells south of the An archaeological mission of the French
Nile Valley, on Egypt’s borders with Sudan Institute for Oriental Studies carrying out a
located. One is in very bad condition and
only bears traces of colour, while the second
in Egypt’s favour, compared to the same
figure last year in trade deficit.
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
✂
23.
Attention … Gentlemen
These days I feel extremely worried about Egypt. This Abdel-Moneim Saïd currency reserves have reached US$23 billion. At a time
does not mean that I never worried about Egypt before; in when the Middle East was burning, and especially when the
fact I sometimes worried because Egypt was not prog- terrorist operations on a wide scale could soon take place. Lebanese problem reached its climax, Egyptian money mar-
ressing, and sometimes because we appeared to take an kets were flourishing and investment in Egypt was growing.
interest in what went on in other places in the world such as Reduced immunity
Afghanistan or Denmark more than in what took place in Which brings me to the third reason for my anxiety: that Pleasing no one
Egypt. My worst worry, however, used to be when urgent the frayed ‘immune system’ of the Egyptian society makes These conditions, as usual, appear to please no one. Nei-
issues such as reform in Egypt were deliberately shelved in the probability of terrorist operations quite substantial. The ther the Egyptian political groups that, for historical and
favour of attending to the chronically complicated issue of failure of terrorism in Egypt has been partly due to the un- ideological reasons, reject a market economy. Nor the rad-
the Palestinian-Israeli struggle. But this time my anxiety is written agreement among all the Egyptian political sectors to icals, who always view any Egyptian advance as a moral
for different reasons. oppose terrorism. I can guess that this agreement still exists, setback, because it denotes integration into globalisation on
but it is not as powerful as before. This is because of the the one hand or because it leads to reduced public anger
Flying sparks widening gap between the opposition and the government, against the current regime—a stance which does not serve
First, the region is burning with fire, whether in Iraq, partly caused by the failure of local democracy and partly by the purpose of the radicals. Besides, economic growth
Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Somalia or Afghanistan. In this the opposition’s desire for Egypt to be a fighting partner in would mean pulling Egypt out of the regional and inter-
burning fire where terrorism has been associated with resis- this region’s battles where terrorism is confused with re- national radical issues to which they want it to be forever
tance and with regional and international conflicts, I fear we sistance and politicians with Islamic radicals. The desire for tied. Those who may like to review the history of the peace
could get caught in the crossfire, especially since the Middle collective political suicide within the Egyptian political process between the Palestinians and the Israelis during
East and the Arab World have never been famous for spectrum is unprecedented. There is a prevalent state of the 1990s will find that violence, whether resistance or ter-
strategic stability. Moreover, terrorism has been mixed shame and disgrace because Egypt does not join her Arab rorism, took place without fail at a timing guaranteed to
with, and enmeshed in, the Arab Israeli conflict. sisters in actively ‘resisting’ and confronting imperialism. abort any budding peace efforts. In Egypt, terrorist opera-
The second reason for my worry is that sparks from the When such conditions prevail in a given country, terrorist tions always took place whenever any forthcoming prosper-
fire have come dangerously close, especially in view of the operations are bound to follow. ity seemed on the horizon.
recent invitation of Ayman al-Zawahiri for collaboration
between the Egyptian Gamaa Islamia (Islamic group) and Bottleneck Wide awake
al-Qaeda. The matter could, to a large degree, be threat- The fourth reason for my anxiety, and perhaps the most Gentlemen, these are the reasons why I feel so worried. If
ening. I am not an expert on radical Islamic groups, but the important, is that Egypt, as a result of wise economic policies, my fears are valid I hope the security apparatus will be
timing of the declaration in the midst the Lebanese crisis, in appears to be poised to exit the bottleneck of economic slump wide awake to the threats, and will make the public clearly
addition to the terrorist operations which were to have been which prevailed from 2000-2004. These policies have re- aware of them too. The British foreign minister was wise to
executed on London-US flights, have all made me very sulted in a six per cent rise in growth rate; the tourism sector say that this was a battle which did not concern the security
worried indeed. We need only join the dots to realise that has brought in more than eight million visitors; while the apparatus alone, but the entire nation.
24.
2 Watani International 22 October 2006
The Coptophile Column Book Review
By John H. Watson and effective group of parishes,
which stands right on the very edge
of the Anglican Communion.
episcopate. Deaconesses are active
within parts of the Orthodox world. Listening to Islam
The Roman Catholic Church is quite The Anglican Province of The only really significant de- With Thomas Merton, Sayyid Qutb, Kenneth Cragg and Ziauddin Sardar
large, probably holding together Nigeria is the largest worldwide col- velopment in the American Episco-
more Christians than any other lection of dioceses in the Anglican pal Church, and in a number of other Praise, Reason and Reflection
‘church’ on earth, and pos- Anglican churches, is the
sibly moving towards a callous rejection of too American vulgarity, sexuality and the United Kingdom. He read
membership of more than many other parts of the An- By John Watson materialism. Not surprisingly he was Physics at London University and
one billion Catholics in the glican Communion. Cen- condemned and imprisoned by his became a significant information
twenty-first century. tral Africa, Jerusalem and own countrymen, and was hanged in scientist, correspondent and lecturer.
the Middle East, Korea, Reviewed by l966, but his influence lives on... The Listening to Islam through him is
Pope Benedict the
Sixteenth has affirmed that Melanesia, Nigeria, Paki- Sr. Agnes Wilkins, O.S.B. recent adherents of his doctrine in fascinating since we see someone,
one true religion continues stan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia regarded the clubs in Kali very much against the tide, seeking to
to exist in the Roman South East Asia and Tan- as legitimate targets, and Russian reform it from within.
Catholic Church. In the zania have no women’s or- In our post 9/11 world, Islam has been copies of his works were found on the He is an interesting contrast
Declaration Dominus Iesus dination of any kind. Even very much at the forefront of our floor of the school in Beslan where to Sayyid Qutb who seemed to be
(6 August 2000) it has been the churches of the Indian consciousness, but frequently our children were slaughtered. going in the opposite direction.
restated that God in Christ Ocean, the Southern Cone perceptions are negative, simply Sardar studied Islamic theology in the
has given the full revelation and the Congo only accept because it is the terrorists who attract Qutb has produced two 1970’s and later Sufism, but was
of the means of salvation as the ordination of deacon- the media attention. This little book important written works, which John dissatisfied with both. He was
a gift to the Catholic esses, in common with by John Watson is a welcome attempt Watson recommends that anyone searching for a new, developing
Church. It remains the other Orthodox Churches. to present Islam more objectively concerned with interfaith dialogue Muslim civilization and not one that
Pope’s original duty to de- It is likely that the An- through the eyes of four very different should read. The first is his massive had ‘fallen into a pit of primitive
fend the Church from her- glican Communion will people, two Christian and two commentary on the Qur’an called In dogma’. He wanted an Islam firmly
soon divide or fall apart – Muslim. rooted in its great tradition, but
esy.
and that some Anglicans It makes one realize facing the future. As he saw
The Ecumenical
will move to Rome and to that Islam is as complex and it around him it was ‘frozen in
Patriarch, Bartholomew
Orthodoxy, or that some divided as is Christianity, and history’ and had been denied
the First also presides over
other parishes or dioceses this book helps us not to have ‘the oxygen of new
a rather large number of
will simply become ‘inde- a one sided view of Islam, but interpretation’.
Orthodox Christians, not Not surprisingly he
simply in Greece and Tur- pendents.’ to open our eyes and ears to
its several aspects. It is very has been attacked by some
key but in many countries Muslim scholars, but in his
throughout the world, in- Three other ‘churches’ important to inform ourselves
within the Anglican Com- in this way, to at least try to books he continues to insist
cluding Australia, America that there cannot be a living,
and Canada - to name only munion do consecrate fe- understand, as a preliminary
male bishops: the USA, to our coming together in dynamic, thriving Muslim
a few! The Orthodox civilization without a body of
Canada and New Zealand, friendship, which in turn will
Church is indeed a critical and creative
though a further eleven help us to co-operate in the
‘church’. intellectuals He applies this
provinces, including Ire- larger political arena, thus
Pope Shenouda the principle to the Qur’an, the
land and Scotland are be- contributing to that elusive
Third presides over the textual sources of which, he
lieved to have amended world peace. I will in this
Coptic Orthodox Church, says, must be reinterpreted by
their church canons to en- review comment on the four
which extends far beyond each generation in the light of
able them to eventually contributors in their turn, to
the Arab Republic of its own experience; a bold
consecrate women as bish- give a little flavor of what the
Egypt. It is quite certain statement, since there are
ops. It must be understood book is about.
that Catholics, Copts and very clearly that there has Muslim scholars who have
Greeks are not ‘in com- been a massive decline in Thomas Merton, the devoted their lives to the study
munion’ with each other, male ordinations to the di- first, will be well known to and exegesis of the Holy Book,
but it might be equally true aconate and the priesthood, most readers but some may but have had to use
to say that all three Katharine Jefferts Schori, bishop of the Diocese not be familiar with his pseudonyms for fear of being
not only in these fourteen
churches would not be of Nevada, has been elected on 18 June 2006 by involvement with Sufism, on put to death for heresy.
provinces but also espe-
likely to affirm the doctrine the House of Bishops as the 26th Presiding Bishop which the author has chosen
cially in the United King-
of the ordination and con- of the Episcopal Church of the USA. to concentrate; especially his It is unfortunate that
dom.
secration of women as The inaugural ceremony will be held at the The Reverend correspondence with the there is a strong trait of anti-
priests and bishops. Washington National Cathedral on 4 November Geoffrey Kirk, the Secre- Pakistani Sufi, Abdul Aziz. Americanism in the two books
and will be carried live at: tary of the English Forward Merton had a wonderful gift he has written with Merryl
The Anglican Com- http://www.episcopalchurch.org. Listening to Islam is John Watson’s latest book Wyn, a convert to Islam. Both
in Faith Group, which op- of intuition in interfaith
munion is not a ‘church’ matters which enabled him to
(109 pages) published by Sussex Academic American Dream/Global
poses women’s ordination Press, Brighton, UK and Portland, Oregon.
qua (as being) a church. It and consecration, said that go straight to what was Nightmare and Why do People
is a rather peculiar though extraor- Communion, and has recently ex- the election was deliberately provoca- essential, and thus he saw Dr. Watson writes the fortnightly Coptophile Hate America, are apparently
dinarily interesting collection of pressed its anger at the election of a tive at a time of crisis in the Anglican Islam as ‘the timeless art of Column for Watani International and is the au- international bestsellers. In my
churches, congregations and organi- woman as Presiding Bishop by the Communion: “Such an appointment awakening by means of thor of Among the Copts (2000) and Christians opinion there is a lot of
sations with a membership of ap- general convention of the US Epis- can only exacerbate divisions and cre- submission’, with Sufism as Observed (2004). exaggeration here and I would
proximately seventy-seven million copal Church in Columbus, Ohio in ate further difficulties with our sen- its heart. And for his not go along with John Watson
Anglicans world- June 2006. The lady correspondent Abdul Aziz when he states that ‘it is almost
ior ecumenical partners.”
wide. chosen by the confer- Geoffrey Kirk is probably there could be no Sufism without the shade of the Qur’an, and the impossible to distinguish between the
Within the It is likely that the ence has only been or- right about the ecumenical chaos he Islam - the two were one and the same second called Signposts/Milestones Islamic or Bushite evangelical
Anglican Com- Anglican Commun- dained for a very brief perceives, but it must also be right to for him. goes a long way towards explaining religious fundamentalism, and it is
munion there are ion will soon divide or period, and supports, ac- understand that Anglicanism world- Merton was blissfully why he was put to death. In it he says, depressing to contemplate the ‘two
some churches that fall apart – and that cording to her own wide is in acute decline. Major Afri- unaware of the concept of abrogation for instance, that ‘Humanity today is competing theologies of annihilation,
support all kinds of some Anglicans will statement, a form of can Provinces, and other churches in employed by some schools of Muslim living in a large brothel’ and that and the ‘endless death and destruction
ill-defined doctrine move to Rome and to sexual immorality and the developing world, have much thought in relation to Judaism and ‘Islam is the solution to the problems that await us’. However, I must admit
and morality. Many Orthodoxy, or that church rites for gay cou- more prominence than ‘Western’ An- Christianity, and there of humanity’. that there are no doubt large numbers
provinces in the some other parishes ples. is no evidence that he It is a who would concur with this view.
glican churches. The chapter ends on a more
Anglican Com- or dioceses will simply grasped any of the Merton was blissfully relief at this point
munion – in Africa become ‘independ- The lady who has af- conflicts within Islam unaware of the concept of to be reminded hopeful note when it states that Sardar
An increasing number of An-
and Australia, for ents.’ firmed her own signifi- glicans remain concerned about ecu- itself. Perhaps abrogation employed by by Watson that is always arguing for the creation of
example – do not cance in the Episcopal menical dialogue. Cardinal Walter because of this the some schools of Muslim i n t e r f a i t h political space in which peaceful
accept the ordina- Church of the USA is Kasper, the President of the Pontifi- correspondence thought in relation to dialogue has not engagement and hope is the real
tion of women or acknowledge that Katharine Jefferts Schori, aged fifty- cal Council for promoting Christian between Merton and Judaism and Christianity. died, and that antidote for doctrinal extremism and
they can become priests or ministers. two. Katharine was baptised and Unity, spoke with Church of England Aziz is still unique - I s l a m i c active terrorism, and he wishes above
The Diocese of Sydney, Australia is raised as a Roman Catholic, leaving bishops only last week. Concerning and very refreshing. orthodoxy has all ‘to refresh and reform Islam as a
They were very open with each other roundly condemned Sayyid Qutb. progressive, pluralistic faith. Let us
an excellent example of a very large the Church of Rome to become an female ordinations and consecrations
Episcopalian. She has a doctorate in he outlined two basic principles. First and made a point of praying for each hope that this view will prevail.
marine biology, is other, and as the author remarks, there The next chapter of the book
of all, he said that the Ro- This timely volume is very
Watani International married to a re- man Catholic Church did is no future in Christian/Muslim deals with Kenneth Cragg, again a
tired mathemati- dialogue without an interior exchange. strong contrast with what has gone useful and thought provoking as an
Anglicans throughout not have the authority to in-
Page 2 Editor cian, and has a the world may be troduce such measures. Without this deep spiritual dimension, before. He is an Anglican clergyman, introduction to the problems of
married daughter. there is no point in academics giving now in his nineties, and a well-known Christian/Muslim dialogue. The four
Saad Michael Saad G e n e
forced to recognise The position of the
papers to each other. scholar of Islam. He has had a long men who form the substance of the
that real hope for Catholic Church “in no
Robinson, a self- unity with Catholics, way arose from a denial of Sadly today, most of our and varied career and is widely book are well chosen for their variety
Page 3 Editor confessed divor- dialogue is overshadowed by wars, traveled in the Middle East, Pakistan, of approaches. Each chapter is
Copts and other Or- the equal dignity of men
Adel Guindy cee, alcoholic and but we can be encouraged by this India, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra preceded by a substantial biography,
thodox will come to an and women or a lack of es-
a prominent ho- dialogue between Merton and Aziz; Leone, where he has given lectures and at the end of the book an ample
end. teem for women”. Rather,
Subscriptions mosexual, re- they were pioneers in that they and engaged in dialogue with major list of source material for further study
it was based “solely on fi- is given.
ceived her sup- transcended their differences and Muslim scholars.
& Advertising delity to apostolic testi- He has The dialogue
port and her vote when he was mony as it has been headed down in found ‘Peace, the great silence at the
heart of religions which is an enigma, also written more with Islam that we are
elected. Mrs. Schori was ordained for the Church throughout the centuries”. Kenneth Cragg wishes to involved in today is
Subscription rates for one year but is a real Presence’. than forty books,
only a decade, leading the Diocese Kasper affirmed that it could not be communicate with Islam, complex and
(52 issues): the best known
North America US $ 100
of Nevada, one of the smallest dio- assumed that the Catholic Church being The Call of and with individual challenging; listening
ceses in the USA, for just five years would one day revise its current po- It is rather a shock to be taken
Europe, Africa US $ 90 from this world of dialogue in the Minaret and Muslims, through is a very important part
after her very brief period as deacon- sition. Sandals at the relationships rather than of it, especially when
Australia, Far East US $ 120 ess and priest. friendship into the world of Sayyid
“The Catholic Church is con- Qutb, the ‘father of suicide bombers’, Mosque. In these studied proclamation. we must heed views we
_____________________________
____________________________ She might be regarded as the vinced that she has no right to do so.”
but however difficult the reading, it and other books he do not understand or
Kindly complete the form below, highest placed woman priest in The cardinal said that the Catholic
is to our advantage to at least try and expresses a central approve of, but perhaps
and send it along with your church history, though we might sus- Church would not break off dialogue
understand this destructive aspect of theme in his thought, which is that he even more important is the need to
payment in US$ or equivalant, pect that Salvation Army women of- in the case of a decision to ordain
payable to Islam. Qutb became the ideological wishes to communicate with Islam, make friends after the example of
ficers, Church Army female captains women to Episcopal office but that
guide to terrorism and the cult of and with individual Muslims, through Thomas Merton and Abdul Aziz.
Watani International and Catholic and Orthodox nuns, the “quality of the dialogue” would death, so it is important that we try to relationships rather than studied The Pope has recently
14308 Summer Tree Road, who work for the sick, the poor and be altered. understand his mindset. For him proclamation. He himself is a fine emphasized that reciprocity should be
Suite G dispossessed for a lifetime, are not jihad, which most Muslims take to example of this approach, and was an intrinsic part of dialogue. I have
Centreville, VA 20121 career clergywomen. Anglicans throughout the mean primarily personal asceticism, without doubt a messenger of peace no hesitation in recommending John
Tel: 571-522-6560 The role of women in the world may be forced to recognise that is a war against ‘infidels’, that is the between faiths. Watson’s Listening to Islam for those
Fax: 571-522-6561 Roman Catholic Church is of cen- real hope for unity with Catholics, West in general, Jews, and even He sought for half a century who would like to go down this road.
Or pay by credit card tral importance and even in recent Copts and other Orthodox will come spiritually ignorant Muslims in Egypt to find how history, theology and ___
Name on the card: times major female figures of the to an end. and the Middle East. He was the main Scripture might meet in Christianity, Sister Agnes Wilkins is a Catholic nun
____________________________
___________________________ Twentieth Century have been beati- ___ inspiration of the Muslim Islam and Judaism. John Watson has of the Order of Saint Benedict (OSB).
Card #: _____ _____ _______ fied and then canonised. Two out- The Revd. Dr. John H. Watson is an Brotherhood who made an attempt on skillfully packed a great deal into this She lives with her community, once
Expiration Date: _____________ standing examples are Mother Teresa Anglican priest who lives in Dorset, President Nasser’s life in 1954. chapter, which gives an excellent founded in seventeenth century
Card Type: ˚ Master Card of Calcutta and Benedicta of the UK, and has been writing the fort- After jihad, another introduction to this great man’s work. England, at Stanbrook Abbey in the
˚ Visa ˚ American Express Holy Cross (Edith Stein, a Jewish nightly Coptophile Column for important concept for him is jahiliyya, Sources for further study are helpfully shadow of the Malvern Hills in
Catholic nun who died in a Nazi Watani International since 2002. He which originally referred to the period listed at the end. Worcestershire. The congregation of
Address: Concentration Camp). is the author of several books includ- of paganism in Arabia before the time sisters is well known for its
__________________________________
__________________________________ For two millennia, Catholic ing Among the Copts (2000), Chris- of Muhammad. Qutb thought he saw The final chapter is devoted outstanding scholarship and has a
__________________________________
__________________________________
and Orthodox Christians have not tians Observed: Narratives for To- a new jahiliyya in Egypt under Nasser. to Ziauddin Sardar, who was born in strong reputation for its contribution
Telephone:________________ been aware of the need for female day’s Church (2004), and Listening to He condemned likewise all modern Pakistan in 1951, but now a native of to Christian literature and to
Fax:_______________________ ordination to the priesthood or the Islam (2005). Arabists as well as what he saw as London since his father emigrated to Gregorian chant.
25.
22 October 2006 Watani International 3
The Gathering World Storm Iranian Headaches
stays and beneficiaries. While the reaction to his “There is a time when to be silent is to lie.” He
Barry Casselman remarks in the Islamic world was predictable, the
outpouring of criticism in the secular Western
then denounced General Millan-Astray and the
Spanish fascists for their assault on Spanish civi-
The Six-Million Person Question
It is human nature to ignore gathering storms un- world was surprising for its anti-Catholicism and lization and culture. (The next day, Unamuno, in portion of its own people. It employed the re-
til the tornado, hurricane, cyclone, or blizzard its shallow dim sight. his 80’s, was arrested and he died soon thereaf- Mark Bowden sources of the state—its policy makers, planners,
comes into plain view. In recent years, repetitive In fact, the attack on the pope was only the lat- ter.) After France fell in 1940 and its fascist Vichy intellectuals, legal system, police and military, in-
weather disasters have caused so much physical est signal from the supranational terrorists that puppet regime was created, French colonial terri- ”As to the Holocaust, I just raised a few questions. dustry, transportation system and to a large extent
damage in certain areas of the U.S. and elsewhere their target was not merely the State of Israel, the tories throughout the world were left to choose And I didn’t receive any answers to my ques- its people—to single out a particular group of citi-
in the world, that today some preparations, with American government and Jews everywhere. their own sides. In the Middle East, the French tions.”—Iranian President Mahmoud zens, systematically demonize and isolate them,
the aid of new and sophisticated technology, do Evangelical Protestants, already identifying with territories chose Vichy. It should be no surprise to Ahmadinejad, interviewed in Time magazine in and then count them, label them, strip them of
take place. Israel and the fate of Judaism as tied with their hear from the leader of Hamas in Lebanon today September 2006. everything, round them up, ship them to concen-
But gathering storms of political disaster do not own, had very early recognized the gathering that the difference between his group and the Is- When Mr. Ahmadinejad visited the U.S. last tration camps, kill them and incinerate them. It
seem to merit the same attention as the weather. storm. So did individual Catholics. But with the raelis is that whereas the Israelis cherish life, his month, he backed off slightly from his earlier po- attempted to squeeze some last value out of the
Perhaps it is the naive belief that these storms of brutal reaction to Pope Benedict XVI, the terror- group celebrates death (including the suicide sition that the Holocaust was a myth. The system- most fit among those doomed, by employing them
the recent past, such as world wars, holocausts ists made plainer than ever before their true target bombers). As the great Islamic scholar Bernard atic extermination of six million Jews by Nazi as slave labor or subjecting them to medical ex-
and ethnic cleansing, cannot recur that inspires and goal, the destruction of western civilization Lewis points out recently in his essay “Freedom Germany in the 1930s and perimentation before killing
such passivity. In an advanced capitalist democ- itself by violence. Liberal religious persons, and and Justice in Islam,” Nazi organizers came from 1940s, an atrocious historical them, and even then looked for
racy such as ours, there is also a resistance to any secular Christians and Jews, in many cases, re- Germany in the early 1940’s to restructure social fact that is as thoroughly docu- ways to make saleable prod-
deliberate change in our comfortable lives, and main skeptical of the storm ahead, and often lead regimes in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, promoting a mented as a fact can be, remains ucts out of their remains.
instead of vigilance we have indulged ourselves the rhetorical campaigns in the media and in po- permanent vicious hatred against the Jews, and a living memory for thousands This horror began in peace-
in a chronic politics of spectator political combat, litical campaigns to denounce those who warn of forming Ba’athist (fascist) parties throughout the of survivors. My guess is that time, so the nation was not
reserving our emotions and passions for rhetori- its imminence and try to prepare for it. region. (I would add that the grand mufti of Jeru- someone in Mr. Ahmadinejad’s lashing out in self-defense, nor
cal electoral contests which have become so ab- When the next wave of attacks do come, these salem, the Muslim leader in British-mandated circle has pointed this out to him was it being threatened in any
stract they are essentially meaningless in the real nay-sayers, of course, will try to make the world Palestine, and who later provoked the 1948 war since he publicly doubted it last concrete way. In the early
world. forget their shortsightedness, just as the isolation- there, was also a Nazi sympathizer who went to December. 1930s, when the state-driven
The gathering storm of the 21st century is quite ists did after Pearl Harbor, just as those French- visit Hitler in Germany in 1941 and returned to The president of Iran is a man process of isolating and
visible in many places in the world, but appar- men who caved into Hitlerism tried to do after the inflame existing local conflicts into deep hatred for whom facts are mere fodder demonizing Jews began, Ger-
ently not sufficiently for many Americans to see Vichy regime fell, just as Europe tried to do after against Jewish settlers.) Islamo-fascism IS liter- for political purposes, but there is little political many had rebuilt itself after its defeat in World
it coming. When individuals, including the presi- the Holocaust was revealed in its full horror, just ally Islamo-fascism. advantage in making a fool of yourself on a world War I, and was the most powerful nation on the
dent of the United States, try to warn the citizenry as the Common Market did after ethnic cleansing When American apologists for terrorists, and stage. So he has now retreated to the last refuge of European continent. Indeed, it would soon sweep
that this storm has yet to hit the country in full in Yugoslavia, just as Africans are doing while others who feed on their own political correctness all intellectual scoundrels, calling for “more re- across its borders and conquer every country within
force, they are dismissed by many Americans, Darfur sinks into further depravity. or other grievances, recently criticized the use of search.” And he has adopted a slightly different its reach. Its science, medical and technological
most of them bitter partisans of the party out of It is a social pattern which goes back to the time the phrase “Islamo-fascism,” they attempted, con- critical tack, which he repeated in numerous fo- prowess were the envy of the world.
power, as well as pacifists and radical populists, we all lived without civilization in caves. sciously or unconsciously, to avert the world’s at- rums during his recent trip to New York. In Time The Holocaust disturbs us so deeply because it
as prevaricators, warmongers and incompetents. Western civilization, with all of its warts and tention from actual and historical origins of the it went like this: “I said that during World War II, demonstrates that none of the things we associate
This rhetoric, of course, does not alter the course defects, is the only pattern of hope and true hatreds in the Middle East, and the womb of the around 60 million were killed. All were human with the advancement of civilization—peace, pros-
of the incoming storm. In fact, as warm inland progress the larger world has ever known in its ideology of much of the terrorism from which has beings and had their own dignities. Why only six perity, industrialization, education, technological
seas transform tropical ocean storms, the storm millennia of human activity. grown a supranational threat and a gathering world million?” achievement—free us from the dark side of the
can be intensified into a hurricane. Fascism emerged in the early 20th century in storm. Here, if I understand it correctly, he is asking: human soul. Just as there is evil in the heart of
The recent assault on Pope Benedict XVI for Italy, Spain and Germany. The slogan “Long live Recent gloating by these apologists that they had Why, in a war where 60 million were killed, has every man, there is evil at the heart of even the
remarks he made concerning religious violence death!” was made notorious by Spanish fascists. successfully suppressed the term “Islamo-fascism” the West made such a big deal out of the deaths of most “civilized” human society. It is a humbling
is only a case in point. The pope’s speech, read In a famous confrontation in 1936, the great Span- by associating it with their negative perceptions six million Jews? Were the other deaths not equally recognition. Man and society are both capable of
carefully and in its entirety, is a plea for reason ish philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamuno of President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and the terrible? Was the world not equally impoverished the most appallingly depraved behavior. Only in
and dialogue between conflicting worldviews. It responded in Salamanca to a speech by fascist efforts to prepare for and combat the gathering by each of these losses? the case of society, it occurs on an industrial scale.
is also a statement that this new pope understands General Millan-Astray in which the general had storm, was premature. The term This seems a fair question, and I can think of a The lives lost in the firebombing of Dresden or
there is a gathering storm against the civilization repeated the slogan “Viva Muerte!” (“Long Live ___________ good answer. I’m sure others can think of even the nuclear flash over Hiroshima are no less sig-
of which the church he leads is one of the main- Death!”) with a speech of his own, declaring R.C.Politics better ones than mine. But since Mr. Ahmadinejad nificant, and the military choices that brought about
has complained about not receiving any, for what those deaths remain profoundly disturbing, but
it’s worth, I’m happy to offer this one: they at least took place in the context of war. Whole
Energy Independence It is a tricky business, rating the moral depreda- societies were caught up in a life-or-death strug-
tions of the human species, because just when you gle.
ahead of the leaders, and there is actually a sense that surround it - from improving America’s trade have settled on the worst, somebody somewhere What the Holocaust demonstrates is the danger
Thomas L. Friedman of relief when anyone talks about energy independ- deficit by not importing more oil to improving the achieves a new low. In the 20th century alone, of a one-party state. It shows what can happen
ence with any seriousness.” climate to improving U.S. competitiveness by communism and its variants in the Soviet Union, when a group of true believers, convinced of the
James Carville, the legendary Clinton campaign Greenberg said he started noticing this during making us leaders in alternative fuels. China and Cambodia have been responsible for superiority of their own ideas, have unchecked
adviser who coined the slogan, “It’s the economy, this year’s re-election campaign by Ed Rendell, So does this mean the public would accept a the slow and rapid execution of millions. Millions power. They are then free to rewrite history to suit
stupid,” knows a gut issue when he sees one. So the governor of Pennsylvania. When his Republi- gasoline or BTU tax? No, said Greenberg. The more perished in the saturation bombing cam- their political ends, and crush those who disagree
when Carville contacted me the other day to tell can challenger, Lynn Swann, first jumped into the public wants government to impose much higher paigns and the atom bomb blasts of World War II. or protest . . . or who worship God in a different
me about the newest gut issue his polling was turn- race, public polls showed the two candidates in a auto mileage standards on Detroit and much more Conflict and murderously misguided idealism were way.
ing up for candidates in the 2006 midterm elec- dead heat. Rendell eventually pulled far ahead in stringent energy codes on buildings and appli- big players in the atrocity game, and accounted Like, say, the mullahs in Iran.
tions in the United States, I was all ears. the polls, though, and among the key issues that ances. People want a tough regulatory response, á for the deaths of many times more innocents than _______________________________________________________________
“Energy independence,” he said. “It’s now the helped to separate him, said Greenberg, was the la California. Adolf Hitler and his Final Solution. Mr. Bowden, a national correspondent for the At-
No. 1 national security issue. It’s become kind of governor’s stressing of alternative energy, and his Remember, Carville and Greenberg are profes- The Holocaust haunts us more than these oth- lantic Monthly, is the author of “Guests of the
a joke with us, because no matter how we ask the “PennSecurity Fuels Initiative” to lessen depend- sional campaign advisers. They get paid to get ers for a good reason. The Final Solution was the Ayatollah” (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006).The
question, that’s what comes up.” ence on foreign oil and grow the state’s clean en- people elected - not to offer feel-good nostrums. deliberate act of a government to exterminate a Wall Street Journal
So, for instance, the Democracy Corps, a Demo- ergy market. So when they tell you that their polling and focus
cratic strategy group spearheaded by Carville and What this means for Democratic Party candi- groups around the country show that “reducing
the former Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg, asked dates, argues Carville, is that it’s no longer enough dependence on foreign oil” is voters’ top national What to Do About Iran
the following question in an Aug. 27 survey of to have “energy security” as part of a 12-step plan security priority, you know that this issue has fi-
likely voters: “Which of the following would you for American renewal. No, it needs to become a nally arrived. The party that captures it most cred- can’t see them, you can’t target them, and if they
say should be the two most important national defining issue of what Democrats are all about. ibly will be rewarded.
Bruce Berkowitz are buried, they are even harder to destroy.
security priorities for the administration and Con- It should “not be part of an expanding litany, Hello? Anybody listening? Even worse, a military strike would weaken the
gress over the next few years?” but rather a contracting narrative,” explained ___________________ News of North Korea’s nuclear test should make elements in Iran who oppose the regime and dis-
Coming in No. 1, with 42 percent, was “reduc- Carville. “It can’t just be that we are for a wom- The New York Times Americans worry all the more about Iran, the credit those who are more sympathetic to America.
ing dependence on foreign oil.” Coming in a dis- an’s right to choose, and “other” proliferation challenge. The question is, And Iran could easily retaliate — say, by making
tant second at 26 percent was “combating terror- education and energy in- what do we do about it? even more trouble for American forces in Iraq and
ism.” Coming in third at 25 percent was “the war dependence. This is the The permanent members of the U.N. Security stepping up its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
in Iraq,” and tied at 21 percent were “securing thing we need to get done Council have agreed in principle to impose sanc- We need to focus more on deterring Iran, and
our ports, nuclear plants and chemical factories” above and beyond every- tions on Iran, but the details are still up in the air. we need to start now, even as we continue to op-
and “addressing dangerous countries like Iran and thing else.” People should The prospects are not promising. pose the Iranian nuclear program and hinder it
North Korea.” associate “energy secu- It has always been hard to dissuade a country however we can. At least three measures would
“Strengthening America’s military” drew 12 rity” with Democrats the from developing nuclear weapons. The notable help.
percent. way they associate “tax successes have been when great powers could in- First, make nuclear weapons less attractive to
Carville also noted that because their polls are cuts” with Republicans, fluence dependent allies. the Iranian public. Iranians missed out on the Cold
of “likely voters,” they have a slight Republican he argued. “This is not That’s how America derailed nuclear programs War experience we had, as we teetered on the edge
bias - i.e., they aren’t just polling a bunch of lib- something to add to the in Taiwan and South Korea, and curbed whatever of nuclear war. Currently Iranians are only being
eral greens. stew - this is the stock.” urges Japan and West Germany might have had to presented the security and prestige benefits of a
“When we lay out different plans for how to The best way for a party “go nuclear” — with diplomatic pressure, eco- nuclear program. They need to become more fa-
deal with Iraq, any plan that also includes energy that is often viewed as nomic incentives, and military assurances. miliar with the costs and risks.
independence tops any other plan that doesn’t,” weak on national security Diplomatically isolated states, in contrast, are Iranian citizens must understand that the use of
said Greenberg, who added that people are not to overcome that deficit is tougher customers — witness South Africa, for nuclear weapons — at least against a nuclear-
expressing this view because they are worried to be for energy independ- example, and now, if its claims are true, North armed opponent — inevitably elicits retaliation.
about price, but because they are starting to un- ence, he noted. Indeed, Korea. These countries are more likely to be ac- Using a surrogate — like a terrorist organization
derstand that America’s oil dependence is fueling nothing would be more customed to “going it alone,” and willing to risk — to deliver a bomb is no escape when your leader
a host of really bad national security problems. potent for Democrats now using subterfuge. Countries that face potential has said in the past that the most likely targeted
“There is frustration that leaders have not taken it than to capture energy se- adversaries with nuclear weapons — as Pakistan country — Israel — “must be wiped off the map.”
up,” he added. “There is a sense that the public is curity and all the issues did — are also hard to dissuade. Iranian leaders must understand that if they trig-
Iran fits the latter mold. It has few close allies. It ger such a nuclear war, they will be held responsi-
is surrounded by nuclear states. And it is rich ble for the destruction of 5,000 years of Persian
enough not to worry much about sanctions. Moreo- culture. We can put these messages directly to the
Nuggets ver, China, France, and Russia all have substan- Iranian people. Iran is not a sealed society.
tial economic interests in Iran, and any one of them Second, we should base American policy on
effective relief in areas where the government and ries after fleeing the harsh social stigma that comes can veto a Security Council resolution. That’s why bounds that we can verify and other countries will
Laila Farid military struggled to reach. It was so well organ- with the death of a husband. the United Nations is unlikely to impose mean- support. We may not be able to verify whether the
ised that UN agencies used it to distribute aid Forced to shave their heads and dress in white, ingful sanctions, and sham sanctions will only Iranians have built a nuclear weapon, but we can
♦ Earthquake Orphans ‘In Hands of materials. an estimated 10,000 widows have sought sanctu- make us look weak. detect whether they have set one off, and even
In the absence of a convincing government plan, ary in Vrindavan, from newly-weds and mothers But suppose Iran did agree to curtail its nuclear France, China, and Russia would agree that should
Jihadists’
tens of thousands of earthquake victims have been program. What then? never happen.
Contrary to government rules that earthquake or-
left homeless and Jamaat-ud Dawa has provided Today’s machinery for building nuclear weap- Setting the limit at testing would also help de-
phans in Pakistan must be cared for only by the
schools, hospitals and construction work. ons is smaller, cheaper, and easier to acquire. The fuse criticisms from our Muslim allies why we
state or relatives, large numbers have been taken
A BBC radio report broadcast this week included current proliferation technology of choice — gas tolerate Israel’s nuclear program. There is a world
into care by religious charities and madrassa Is-
the lyrics of a madrassa morning assembly song centrifuges for enriching uranium — can be bur- of difference — political, military, diplomatic —
lamic schools.
recited by earthquake orphans: “When people deny ied, hidden, and dispersed. Designs for first- and between a program everyone assumes and a pro-
A senior cleric who runs the Jamia Dar-Uloom
our faith, ask them to convert, and if they do not, second-generation centrifuges have been around gram everyone has to acknowledge.
al Islamia madrassa said that he had taken 55 or-
destroy them utterly.” since the 1980s and are readily available, thanks We can also likely detect the transfer of Iranian
phans into care. His madrassa helped the Al-
Rashid Trust carry out relief work immediately largely to A.Q. Khan, the former head of Paki- nuclear weapons technology. No one wants that
after the earthquake last October. The trust has ♦ The City of Widows stan’s nuclear program.
So even if we do wrangle an agreement from
to happen, either, and other nations would join us
in countermeasures.
been accused by the United States of channelling When Paro Sharma’s husband died in a rickshaw
funds to al-Qa’eda. Iran, it will be hard to monitor and impossible to Third, we should stop enhancing the political and
accident, she became not just a grieving widow verify. Tehran will have the incentive to prepare military value of an Iranian bomb. Paradoxically,
The cleric said that hundreds of other orphans but a social outcast. Blamed by her Hindu rela-
had been taken into care by other madrassas and the groundwork for a sudden breakout, or to de- the more vocal we are in our objections to the Ira-
tives for the bad “karma” that brought about his velop a concealed parallel program — just as North nian nuclear program, the more we make it an ef-
Jamaat-ud Dawa, proscribed by America as a front demise, she was banished from home as an omen
for Lashkar-i-Toiba, which is held responsible for in their prime to elderly women who can barely Korea apparently did after signing the Agreed fective bargaining chip. The cost of eliminating it
of bad luck and told to fend for herself. walk, all living on handouts after being deemed Framework that was supposed to end its nuclear rises, in our dealings with Iran and with our part-
terrorist attacks in India. On the dusty streets of Vrindavan, a Hindu holy
Jamaat-ud Dawa ran a training camp. When the socially untouchable. weapons program in 1994. ners.
town in northern India, known as the City of Wid- It is one of the cruellest Hindu traditions to have Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons is unlikely to This is the time for quite, serious diplomacy com-
earthquake struck, the group provided fast and ows, countless sad-eyed women tell similar sto- survived into the 21st century, and is an image disappear. Imagine you were an Iranian leader, sur- bined with developing real defensive and retalia-
that modern India would rather the outside world rounded by Israel, Russia, China, Pakistan, and tory capabilities that are apparent to all. This would
did not see. India — all established or (in the case of Israel, put questions in the minds of Iranian military lead-
But to the fury of Hindu conservatives, that is assumed) nuclear powers. Would you agree never ers who would plan a strike, and undercut any of-
about to change. Water, a film by the Indian-born to develop a nuclear hole card? ficial who might actually propose to use a nuclear
director Deepa Mehta, has been nominated for an This is why, according to most polls, Iran’s nu- weapon.
Oscar after she turned her lens on her country’s clear program is popular with almost every sector This is not an ideal solution. But the potential of
inhumane treatment of widows. of Iranian society — including opponents of the an Iranian nuclear weapons program will not go
Her entry for the coveted award, however, will current theocracy. If any Iranian leader agreed to away. So we need to manage it, cripple it, and de-
come not from India – where protesting mobs at- nuclear controls, his rivals would likely use the value it. As in so many cases today, we must pre-
tacked the film set and where no cinema dare show issue to rally support — as the Bharatiya Janata pare and pace ourselves for a threat that will be
it – but her adopted homeland of Canada, which Party did in India in 1998. with us for a very long time.
has put it forward for best foreign language film. What’s more, the same features that make Ira- __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________ nian nuclear facilities so hard to monitor also make Mr. Berkowitz is a research fellow at the Hoover
Sources: The Observer and The Daily Telegraph them hard to destroy with a military strike. If you Institution at Stanford University. The NY Sun
26.
2 Watani International 22 October 2006
4 Watani International 22 October 2006
Pope Shenouda III Left: Fakharani and
Menna Shalabi in
Sekket al-Hilali;
Pastoral care (19) Right: Scene from
Darb al-Tayyeb
A spiritual priest
should be far from
anger and nervousness
Translated by: Dr Wedad Abbas
A nervous person is one whose nerves the church.
burn with fury when angry is a dis- If they act freely he will get angry
tasteful sin, which people do not expect and nervous. They also will feel angry
from a priest who should be meek, be- and crippled by his authority. They
Ramadan TV
ing in God’s image and likeness (Mt11: feel threatened by his anger, and this
29, Gen1: 27). may trouble them and make them get
The sin of nervousness is not only away from the church in order to keep
distasteful, but also exposed. their peace!
If a priest neglects his private prayers The words of the priest ring in their
or readings, people will not know, nor if ears, saying: A transgressor is ruined!
he sins by his mind his heart, or his in- Only because they did not take his
tent. But his nervousness reveals a counsel on everything, nor submitted
weakness which he could not hide, and to his authority! Ramadan is famous the world over as the Muslim university professor who heads a
by which he lost his calmness and self- In his nervousness he appears as a Robeir al-Faris
holy month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. There virtuous political party and is
control. superior not a father, and a violent is however another side to Ramadan, that of the host of a TV talk show
Nervousness repels people from him superior also. entertainment. With work hours curtailed, people have more that is closer to religious preaching.
and from the church, because people How easy it is for him to be a kind time on their hands; and with a festive mood reigning, they are When he is fielded in the elections it
like to see a cheerful priest who and a gentle father, and at the same more inclined towards indulging in amusement. turns out he is a man with a shady
spreads peace. time a recognized superior. But re- past; an illegitimate daughter sur-
The peace that is in him pervades grettably he holds to violence and los-
whoever sees or hears him. They expect es the kind-heartedness of a father. He Unwritten laws faces, and the scene is prime for
from him the spirit of fatherhood, a gen- troubles and offends the others, and be- In this context, Ramadan television serials have gained all sort of corruption. The drama
tle smile, encouraging and compas- comes a stumbling block if some vital importance, and have mushroomed into a huge industry is bold in exposing Egyptian so-
sionate words, and calmness toward would imitate him. with its own written and unwritten laws. Producers com- cial and political ills, and
their faults. They expect him to be like In his anger he will not accept the peting for the time and attention of spectators go to all Fakharani is the superb actor
a deep ocean which swallows and views of the others, nor bear with lengths to gain the widest viewership possible. Some depend he always is. Especially pop-
solves a piece of mud cast into it, and their arguments. on star actors or actresses to market works of substandard ular is the song used in the title
offers on its surface clear water. He may even say to those who argue quality. Others tailor works according to the demands of theme, which focuses on the con-
But if the souls get turbid when en- with him or oppose his opinion: Would specific stars, such as the serials screened this year in which tradiction between the hopes and
countering his anger, they feel frus- you dare argue and oppose your fa- the leading roles are played by actresses who had donned the realities of Egyptian life. The song
trated and confused with respect to ther?! Here a feeling of infallibility en- hijab or Islamic veil and ‘repented’ what they then described is already on most tongues.
idealism and religion. ters into him. He supposes his views as the ‘sinful’ profession of acting. A number of these actr-
If the priest is nervous in dealing with are infallible, and gradually attempts to esses have now expressed a desire to make a comeback—a Unpretentious
children, they will get frightened by his destroy or humiliate his opposers. point which in itself makes for an excellent marketing It is my opinion that Darb al-Tayyeb
features and the tone of his voice in his Whoever works with him must lose his tool—but they have drawn their own red lines for producers (The Good Man’s Path) taken from Moh-
anger. They cannot find in him the im- personality and knows nothing but si- and scriptwriters to follow. amed Haggagi’s The Journey of Sheikh
age of Christ or the kindness of the fa- lent obedience, that is, blind obedi- Some producers appear to believe that Ramadan drama Noureddin is one of the best drama works
thers. The nervous image will stick to ence! Otherwise volcanoes will burst should include a generous amount of preaching, while some this Ramadan. Director Nader Galal and
their minds, and may keep away from and pour out fire! others resort to historical incidents or characters to weave a
the church because of him. A priest may sometimes justify his scriptwriter Basheer al-Deek ventured into
story around. In all cases, a few end up with really distin- untrodden territory when they tackled the
And if he is nervous in dealing with anger that it is for truth! guished works. From among the wide menu of this year’s TV
the old, they will stumble concerning O father, if you are angry for the topic of Muslim-Christian relations in a
Ramadan drama, Watani takes its pick. realistic, candid, unpretentious manner.
the possibility of implementing the truth, ask yourself first: Is it right that
commandments of God in practice, see- you get angry? What is the proper way The national movement against the
ing that even the clergy cannot imple- for holy anger? Is holy anger confined Preaching and lecturing British occupation of Egypt in 1919
ment them. to high and sharp voice? My father…Accused focuses on the staid, idealistic Abdel- forms the backdrop against which the
People cannot benefit from an ir- See then how God spoke to Elijah Hameed, an Arabic language teacher. When his son gets inter-faith relations are presented; the
ritable priest, nor from his sermons who was fleeing from Jezebel: beaten by some colleagues whose parents are influential, Ab- dialogue flowing spontaneously with-
and prayers. They will not feel com- "Behold, a great and strong wind tore del-Hameed insists that only through law can justice be at- out any exaggeration or pretence.
fortable in confessing to him. into the mountains and broke the rocks tained for his son. He takes all the legal steps necessary, which As for Heart of the World, it fol-
Since he cannot gain victory in his in pieces before the Lord but the Lord brings him under huge pressure from the culprits to withdraw lows the line of last year’s Places in
spiritual life, nor can resist anger or was not in the wind; and after the wind his case. The pressure mounts horrendously, and Abdel- the Heart in that it tackles Arab
train himself in tolerating the weak- an earthquake, but the Lord was not in Hameed finally gives in. His defeated son then decides to take American relations. While last
nesses of the others, nor can acquire the the earthquake, and after the earth- the law in his own hands, follows a path diametrically opposite year’s serial dealt with these re-
virtues of gentleness and decency, how quake a fire, but the Lord was not in to his father’s, and a struggle ensues. The work is too full of lations following 9/11, this year’s
then will he be able to lead the others the fire…" And finally there came a direct preaching, even though actors Nour al-Sherif and Ash- deals with Iraq and the thorny issue
spiritually and to guide them towards still small voice, saying, "What are you raf Abdel-Ghaffour, and actresses Maali Zayed and the of resistance and terrorism, with au- A number
acquiring such and other virtues? And doing here Elijah?" (1Kgs19: 11, 12). young Zeina played their roles very convincingly. thor Mohamed Rifaat playing in the of this year’s
how could he say to the congregation Would that you train yourself to have Sekket al-Hilali (Al-Hilali’s Road) is clear proof that its grey area and trying to please everyone.
"Peace to you" while he cannot keep his such a still small voice as that with writer Youssef Moeati is a good reader of news and current Also for the second year in succession, stars,
own peace in dealing with them. He which the Lord spoke to His servant events. Moeati’s work is inspired by last year’s parlia- the children’s show of Zaza and Gargeer including
who lacks something cannot give it!! Elijah! mentary elections, and he is adept at exploiting coincidences has succeeded in attracting viewers of all ages. veiled
Strange indeed that the irritable But if your voice is raised, say to to weave his story, regardless of the unrealistic characters. In the same concept as Sesame Street, it presents in-
priest tries always to give excuse to yourself: "Probably it is my heart Yehia al-Fakharani is the almost too-good-to-be-true formation and experience in an innovative manner full of fun.
actresses
himself, to justify and philosophize that is lifted, so my voice is raised
his anger, and seeks biblical verses with it." Then fear and humble
calling for it!! yourself.
Of beads, mats, caps and
He may hold to the words of Paul the Beware, lest your voice rises grad-
apostle to his disciple Timothy, "Con- ually and turns into noise! Then you
vince, rebuke, exhort," or "What son is will not be able to say it is holy noise!
there whom a father does not chasten?" Let not your relationship with others
(2Tim4: 2; Heb12: 7) be confined to: commands, and obedi- Prayer beads, mats, caps and incense are part and parcel of what is
Actually, rebuking or disciplining the Ramadan tradition. No Ramadan worship can be complete
incense
ence; of course commands on your
should only be used in certain important part, and obedience on theirs. A person without them. In the old districts of al-Hussein, Khan al-Khalili, and
cases, but not to be a nature in the may obey you of fear, not with pleas- Ghouriya in Fatimid Cairo, the manufacture of these items has
priest! ure, while grumbling within. His grum- flourished since old times.
Moreover, there is a big difference bling may be revealed to others, who
between firmness and nervousness. will join in it. But if you convince him, 99 or 33
A priest can be firm in certain situa- he may learn a lesson from you. Then Haj Mahmoud Saïd, a shopkeeper in al-Hussein, told Watani that the
tions that require firmness, without fall- he will obey you with all his heart and sale of prayer beads is seasonal, with Ramadan topping the high
ing in nervousness which reveals lack may convince others as well. season, followed closely by the hajj and umra seasons of pilgrimage to
of self-control. And in his firmness he It is not proper for a priest to get Mecca, as well as the high season of Arab tourist influx, which is
should settle everything calmly by con- angry for financial issues, for in- usually in summer. Beads may be made of precious stones such as
vincing the others, not by noise or high stance. rubies and emeralds, or of ebony, sandalwood, bone, alabaster, coke,
angry voice! Nor is it proper for him to get angry and of course that famous modern-day material of plastic. The shape of
Convincing is a spiritual way that has for personal reasons, or for insisting on the beads differ; they may be spherical, olive-shaped, square, rec-
a deeper and more stable impact, but it certain functions that are within the tangular, or even flat. Some may be large enough to hang on a wall,
needs some effort and wisdom. That is scope of the work of someone else. His and some have the 99 holy names of God inscribed each on a bead.
why some priests prefer to relive them- anger in this case will reveal some Muslim prayer beads include 99 beads, while Christian beads include
selves from such an effort and are satis- emotions or qualities that are not prop- 33 and are usually in demand on religious occasions.
fied with giving commands, practising er for the idealism expected from a Not surprisingly, Chinese beads have lately dominated the market.
power, and using sharp words! Such a priest. The people may then interfere Trader Farouq al-Sayed says that they have captured 90 per cent of it,
way is unspiritual and has had con- to reconcile the priest with the other
sequences. party, or to correct the priest!! and complains that the local manufacture of beads is now threatened.
Nervousness implies other sins. To sum up all we say:
First, it is not a good example to peo- • A priest should not be irritable, Sweet smell
ple, and it implies lack of humbleness, for his anger may repel people from Caps and prayer mats are also indispensable in Ramadan. The
as St. Dorotheus said, "A humble per- him and from the church as a whole. Turkish variety of mats has gained huge popularity, since each comes
son does not cause anyone to get angry, • In his anger he will not be a good with an attached compass that indicates the qibla or direction of
nor himself gets angry from anyone." example to his children of meekness, Mecca. As for caps, Abada Stouhi, a shopkeeper in Ghouriya, says that
Nervousness contradicts cheerfulness, calmness, tolerance, and humbleness. the white, netted variety sells best. Youngsters however, he says, prefer
gentleness, meekness, and tolerance. • In his anger he may fall in other the multicoloured ones which are modelled after those of the Upper
Furthermore it opposes love, because faults, besides, anger is an exposed sin Egyptian region of Aswan.
love "is not provoked" (1Cor13: 5). that offends others. The sweet smell of incense wafting through homes and shops is in-
Again we can say that nervousness • An irritable priest uses authority separable of prayer time on Fridays and Ramadan. Besides providing
conflicts with wisdom, for a wise per- not love. the romantic, spiritual atmosphere necessary for prayer, it is believed
son chooses a better way in his deal- • People expect a priest to be an ex- that incense has the added value of being a mosquito repellent. Most
ings, and does not fall in any of the pre- ample of love, decency, compassion, famous—and best-priced—are the Indian incense rods which give off a
ceding faults. Such faults, of course, are and tolerance, as Christ who tolerated very typical smell when lit. And even though incense was never an
not proper for a priest. our sins. Egyptian product, Egyptian incense sellers have always been famous
If the reason for the wrath of the • People like to see a cheerful priest for their special mixes which are always highly in demand.
priest is his desire to impose his own who has a spirit of fatherhood, a love-
will, even though the views of the oth- ly smile, who says kind and encour- Tereza Kamal
ers are the right views, then he will aging words, and who fills them with
committing a double or a compound peace and comfort. And, on the other
sin. Here the offence will be greater.
In such a case the anger implies love
of authority; for he will feel that whoev-
hand, if they get troubled when meet-
ing him in his anger, they will be frus-
trated.
Watani International.... Watani International.... Watani International.... Watani International....Watani International
er opposes him is practising assault • Even if the priest thinks that his
against his authority or dignity, or is in- anger is holy anger, for the sake of Editor-in-chief Youssef Sidhom Editorial team International staff Senior editors
terfering in his functions and taking truth, let this be without fury or ner- Ghada Tantawi Executive editor Magdi Khalil (NY) Saad Michael Saad, (Los Angeles)
away part of his power over the church. vousness. Cairo staff Tel (1) 571 5226560, Fax (1) 571 5226561
This makes him angry and furious es- • Let him settle everything with firm- Ghali Kozman E-mail: magdikh@ hotmail.com Adel Guindy (France)
pecially if any action is taken without ness, without noise, with convincing Managing editor Samia Sidhom Dalia Victor magdikkamel@ aol.com Fax (33) 147012600
his counsel or his knowledge, even rather than with high sharp voice. Editing advisor William El-Miry (NY) E-mail: guindya@aol.com
Donia Wagdy
though the action is sound! He wants to • Convincing continues, though it Copy editor Jenny Jobbins Contributing editor Mahfouz Doss (LA) Laila Shafik Farid (U.K)
be the only ruler and the only authority needs some effort. That is why some Marina Ihab
Tel (1) 310 8263388, Fax (1) 310 8208480 Fax (44) 1704574356,
for all church matters, whether spiritual, priests prefer to avoid exerting effort Layout editor Heba Adel Nivert Rizkallah E-mail: madoss@ worldnet.att.net E-mail: lailafarid@btopenworld.com
social, or administrative! and are satisfied with giving com-
Having all authority in his grip, mands, practising authority, and using
he cripples all those who work in harsh words! Virginia office: 14308 Summer Tree Road, Suite G, Centreville, VA 20121; Los Angeles office: P.O.Box 2442, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
22 October 2006
Watani International 3
27.
✂
Watani Francophone 22 Octobre 2006
6
Les Magazines Coptes
wel Gharb "ou " l'Est et l'Ouest ", il écrit dans " le Bo-
stan el Roh " ou " le jardin de l'esprit ", " Donia El Tefl "
ou " le monde de l'enfant ", " el Nachra " ou " la nou-
velle "..etc. Ce qui prouve que la vie culturelle est de
plus en plus enrichie par ces magazines et que les
magazines chrétiens ne sont pas publiés uniquement
au Caire et à Alexandrie mais il y en a d'autres
Robeir El Fares tionnant les points négatifs dans l'Eglise , le rédacteur en jeunes adolescents et " El Kelma " ou " La parole " ainsi
comme " Ava Bavly " qui est publié à Sohag et Ko-
nouz publié par l'épiscopat de Malawy et El Safina publié par
chef à ce moment était le défunt journaliste bien connu Mos- que d'autres revues. Parmi les magazines destinés aux l'épiscopat de Choubra el Kheima …
sad Sadek " 1916- 2000 ". Il participait et fondait plusieurs adolescents nous pouvons citer " Soutt el Raei " ou " la
E n 1860, le Pape Kirollos IV, nommé " Père de la réforme " magazines d'aspect chrétien comme :El Nil(Le Nil ),El Mos-
takbal (le Futur),El Fedaa(la Rédemption), El Fedaa El Ged-
voix du berger" qui apparaît pour la 23ème année comme
un message non régulier publié par le groupe du service
Magazines Catholiques
a importé de l'Autriche la première imprimerie pour servir les id (la nouvelle Rédemption) et El Yakaza (L'Eveil) et d'au- de la section préparatoire de l'église de Saint Georges - Quant à l'idéologie catholique, parmi ses magazines les plus
Coptes et aider au processus de la publication dans les Eglises. tres, Parmi les écrivains de cette période citons M. Nazir Sporting à Alexandrie. Sur la couverture du magazine est célèbres citons " el Salah " ou " la bonté " qui se caractérise par
On la considérait comme étant la première imprimerie après Gayed (Pape Chénouda III présentement), M. Wahib Atallah écrit " message de la vie chrétienne pour les jeunes ", un la magnifique réalisation technique dont le rédacteur en chef est
celle de El Amyreya à Boulak participant à la propagation de la (Anba Eghrigorios ). des plus réussis et des plus beaux magazines du service le père Yohana Kolta. Ses sujets sont spirituels et dogmatiques .
culture et l'évolution de l'imprimerie en Egypte. Et dès lors, l'ap- Le magazine Madaress El Ahad est considéré comme le ré- chrétien pour cette catégorie d'âge sur le niveau de la De même, les sujets sociaux importants sont les plus traités.
parition des magazines religieux chrétiens a été lancée à la fin pertoire de l'Histoire des églises contemporaines offrant la da- prédication chrétienne. Cette revue va de pair avec toute
du 19ème siècle. tation des événements historiques de l'Eglise , son chef de ré- nouveauté journalistique et assure une réalisation tech- Magazines Protestants
En effet, dans ce reportage, on n'est pas sensé présenter daction actuellement est M. Mokhtar Fayek. Selon les nique d'une façon merveilleuse. Les articles non signés, à Parmi les magazines protestants publiés en Egypte avec
une statistique des magazines chrétiens en Egypte, mais le dernières statistiques citées ci-dessus, le magazine renferme part ceux des évêques et des prêtres, ont créé des aven- ses diverses sectes citons le magazine " el chark we el
plus important c'est de dégager une lecture et une analyse en 92.75 % matières religieuses , 6.4% de divertissement, et tures chrétiennes comme " les aven- gharb " ou " Est et Ouest " , publié par
matière de " journalisme religieux ", ainsi que les méthodes de 0.9% d'articles culturels. Parmi ceux qui y écrivent : 92.7% tures des quatre amis " ou " Mo- l'Eglise copte en Egypte dont le ré-
publications tout en y relevant les insérations. dacteur en chef est Monsieur Malak
Au départ, plusieurs magazines de prédication ont été pub-
liés à travers les organisations non gouvernementales , les
sont laïcs, et 7.3 % des prêtres.
Le style journalistique dans le magazine est de 62.4% tan-
dis que le style éducatif occupe 37.6%. On remarque la res-
ghamarat el Asdekaa el arbaa " …etc.
Tant de revues chrétiennes accordent
une grande importance à cette catégorie
beaucoup Nasr, l'équipe de réalisation est présidé
par l'évêque Gayess Abd el Malak. Ce
églises ainsi qu'à travers les particuliers. Ceci a exigé l'ap-
probation de l'Eglise et du bureau de publication au ministère
de l'Intérieur .
semblance d'un bon groupe de magazines publiés par la so-
ciété El Mahaba à Choubra dans le style et les matières
différentes renfermées.
d'âge à l'instar de " Magalett Madaress el
Ahad li Nashaa el Kenissa ou la revue
des écoles de Dimanche pour les ad-
de magazine est publié sous la forme de
six périodiques par an et présente les
nouvelles, les reportages, l'Internet et
En réalité, à l'ère du président Hosni Moubarak, les églises
ont publié un bon nombre de magazines , déposant ces pé-
riodiques avec des éditions à la " Maison du livre " et parfois
Quant au magazine Marcos ou (Marc) publié par le mon-
astère Anba Makar (Saint Macaire) depuis 1957 sur lequel
est écrit Ressalet el fekr el massihy lil shabab wel khadem ou
olescents de l'Eglise. Cette dernière pub-
liait il y a 27 années, la revue présente
aux petits la chrétienté d'une façon sim-
dilettantisme les sessions.
L'Eglise protestante publie le magazine
" Agnehat el Nosour " ou " les ailes des
quelques églises publient plusieurs magazines.
En général, les magazines chrétiens sont dominés par l'as-
pect sermonnaire dépourvu des différents arts du jour-
( message de la doctrine chrétienne pour les jeunes et les ser-
vants ) ont peut dire qu'il s'agit de l'un des magazines chréti-
ens les plus raffinés au niveau intellectuel et au niveau de la
ple, à présent, elle est présidée par Mon-
sieur Mokhtar Fayek.
De plus, il y a une revue non régulière,
et peu de aigles " qui était très distinguée sous la
présidence du docteur Samuel Habib. Il
discute tant de débats généraux et les
nalisme, cela est dû à la majorité de ses écrivains qui sont
des prêtres et le reste sont des fans, tandis que très peu ceux
sont journalistes .
réalisation journalistique, son rédacteur en chef est le père
Youhana El Makary et était supervisé du père Matta El Mess-
kine qui écrivait des articles en anglais et en arabe et ses ser-
nommée Baraem Antonious ou les
germes d'Antonios. Elle a été publiée
par l'église de l'Anba Antonios à Choubra
journalisme sujets religieux divers.
La communauté de femmes de l'Eglise
protestante publie " Les colonnes des
mons ont tous l'aspect éducatif .Ce magazine publie en 10 il y a 16 ans et contient des articles très angles " ou " Aamedatt el Zawaya ". Ce
Magazines Orthodoxes éditions par an distingués qui critiquent les proverbes magazine parle du monde de la femme
Parmi les magazines les plus célèbres ,publiés par l'Eglise or- Le Magazine El Yakaza ou (L'Eveil) est publié depuis 78 ans. populaires à travers différentes aventures de " sett Mariya " et selon une vision religieuse et spirituelle, il y a tant de mes-
thodoxe " magalett d'el Keraza " ou " la revue de la mission ", Il se distingue par un style religieux , littéraire et social. Il fut fon- du petit artiste …etc. sages envoyés aux différentes églises protestantes en
fondée par le Pape Chénouda III en 1965 - étant l'épiscopat de dé par le père Ibrahim Loucas. Aujourd'hui les con- Parmi les revues chrétiennes des enfants figurent " magalett Egypte. Citons de même le magazine dénommé "Vers le but
l'enseignement - comme revue mensuelle émise par le " Collège cessionnaires du magazine sont ses 2 filles Suzanne et Lucie Bostan el Zohour " ou " revue du jardin de fleurs " qui est " ou "Nahw el Hadaf " adressé aux jeunes et présidé par M.
écclésial " copte . Ibrahim Loucas, son rédacteur en chef est Mme Samira Hakim publiée sous les auspices de l'Anba Botros, de l'épiscopat gén- Youssef Riad contient des sujets spirituels et historiques pour
Cette revue s'intéresse au Dogme et à l'histoire de l'Eglise Abou Seif. C'est un des magazines traditionnels au niveau des éral comme un message non régulier publié par la maison d'im- les jeunes. Quant à l'Eglise " des frères " ou " el ekhwa " en
orthodoxe. Après avoir intronisé le Pape Chénouda comme sujets abordés et présente beaucoup de littérature mondiale. pression de saint Jean le Bien-aimé. Cette revue est une des Egypte, elle publie deux magazines : "ressalett el shabab el
patriarche, ce magazine est devenu un hebdomadaire s'in- Il y a tant de magazines qui s'adressent aux jeunes et aux plus récentes, ayant été publiée en 1998. On y trouve des ar- massihy we el maraii el khadra" ou "message pour les
téressant aux nouvelles de la mission de saint Marc (Or- adolescents entre autres nous pouvons citer " Magazine des ticles du grand écrivain pour enfants, le docteur Yacoub el Sha- jeunes chrétiens et les prairies vertes". Ils comptent sur les
thodoxe) en Egypte, en Afrique ainsi que dans les pays d'ém- jeunes de l'Eglise " ou " magalett el Shabab el Kanassy " rouny. Ces revues se distinguent par la magnifique impression. livres de commentaires , d'histoire et de littérature. D'autre
igration. Selon l'analyse figurant dans le rapport de l'état qui été publié comme magazine non-régulier de l'épiscopat Parmi les revues qui s'adressent aux parents pour leur fournir part, l'Eglise de Dieu "el khamssineya publie " el shehada el
religieux (émis par le Centre des études stratégiques d'El- des jeunes. Ce magazine a pour but de renforcer les principes les moyens efficaces dans l'éducation de leurs enfants figure " kamssineya " ou "l'attestation des 50". C'est une revue
Ahram ) : les sujets abordés dans " La mission ou El Keraza " de la vie chrétienne dans l'esprit des jeunes. La revue est réa- magalett Donia el tefl " ou la revue du monde de l'enfant, un scientifique, spirituelle et culturelle, Elle présente la doctrine
se répartit en : 80,6% matières religieuses, 11% culturelles, lisée par le journaliste Georges Onsy et supervisée par le message non régulier publié par la Commission du déve- d'el khamassiny en Egypte et son rédacteur en chef est le
8,2% divertissement chercheur M. Samir Morcos. Parmi les journalistes qui y par- loppement et du service social, présidée par le père Bishoy père Samuel Meshreky. L'assemblée générale des églises de
Ceux qui y écrivent se répartissent selon la classification ticipent il y a l'écrivain Sameh Fawzy. Selon les rapports d'al- Sedky et le diacre Ayad Henry. Cette revue apparaît pour la Dieu publia en 1920 " bouk el enguil " ou " la trompette de
suivantes: 75,3% prêtres , 24,7% laïques, et avec un aspect Ahram, les sujets religieux occupent 52.6%, les sujets cul- 12ème année et discute des problèmes de l'éducation psycho- l'évangile" une revue religieuse, sociale, littéraire, elle est
de prêche éducatif dans 71% de leurs articles. turels un pourcentage de 47.4%, des religieux d'un taux de logique et spirituelle. Y écrivent des pédagogues, des psycho- présidée par le père Morgan Ibrahim. Elle se caractérise par
En 1947, le magazine " Madaress el Ahad " ou " Ecoles du 33.3% y écrivent et il y a 66.7% des écrivains non religieux. logues et des sociologues spécialisés. les études de traduction et les enrichit avec des articles en
Dimanche " a été publié à Choubra et sur la couverture du Le style éducatif est d'un pourcentage de 70.5 % tandis que le A noter que les magazines chrétiens ont offert un genre dis- langue anglaise outre des interprétations.
magazine s'est intitulé " le nouveau message de résurrection style journalistique compte pour 26.5%. tingué de journalistes amateurs ou de lecteurs professionnels. Sans doute, les publications des magazines chrétiens in-
" caractérisé toujours par la photo fixe de Jésus-Christ por- De même, parmi les publications de " Oskofiyett el Par exemple, monsieur Adel Ateya qui écrit dans la plupart ondent le marché culturel mais affrontent le problème d'être
tant un fouet à la main, exprimant l'aspect révolutionnaire du Shabab" ou " épiscopat des jeunes " il y a une revue dé- des magazines chrétiens est le réalisateur du magazine " La distribuées à travers la poste, dans les librairies chrétiennes
magazine et suggérant de nouvelles idées tout en men- nommée " El Aghsan " ou " les branches " destinée aux vie quotidienne ". Il est secrétaire de rédaction de " El Chark et les librairies des églises uniquement.
Une légende « ibsénienne »
Névine Lameï En célébration du centenaire du célèbre dividu et son épanouissement ». Ce drame qu’Ibsen con-
dramaturge norvégien Henrik Ibsen sacra toute sa puissance créatrice, a été produite après 27
E n présence de la reine du Norvège et sous l’auspice
(1828-1906), un grande soirée musicale
mais aussi théâtrale, sera donnée le 26
ans d’exil à l'étranger, en Italie et en Allemagne, c’est-à-
dire hors du Norvège, son pays natal. Il est à savoir
agenda
de Mme Susanne Moubarak, avec la coopération du min- qu’Ibsen déçu par l’attitude de la Norvège et de la Suède
istère du tourisme et la Bibliothèque d’Alexandrie, Peer et le 27 octobre, à 21h, au théâtre du au moment où les armées prussiennes écrasent le Dane-
Gynt, la fameuse pièce théâtrale de Henrik Ibsen qui a été Son et de la Lumière, au sein des mark, et enfin nanti d’une bourse qui lui permet de partir
jouée pour la première fois à Oslo le 24 février 1876, a Pyramides de Guiza. Peer Gynt est la pour Rome, il quitte son pays en 1864 pour n’y revenir que
Spectacle choisi l’Égypte, précisément le terrain des Pyramides à gu- fameuse pièce théâtrale d’Ibsen qui sera vingt-sept ans plus tard. De cet exil littéraire et du choc des
Dans l’ambiance du mouled, Al-Leila al-kébira iza, en tant que station essentielle pour célébrer le cente- événements historiques, il tire une nouvelle créativité et
naire du célèbre dramaturge norvégien Henrik Ibsen, surt-
jouée lors des deux soirées. produit Peer Gynt en 1867. Ibsen a lui-même écrit dans
(la grande nuit), datant de 1960, écrite par Salah Ja-
out que ce dernier était en 1869, le représentant officiel du « Hedda Gabler » en 1890: « L'important pour moi a été de
hine et composée par Sayed Mékkawi, sera pré-
Norvège dans l’inauguration historique du Canal de Suez. décrire des hommes, des caractères d'hommes, des des-
sentée, avec la troupe du ballet de l’Opéra du Caire,
Ibsen a longtemps été ébloui par la civilisation égyptienne tinées d'hommes, à partir de certaines observations et don-
dans la grande salle de l'Opéra du 26 au 28 octobre,
qui a sans doute laissé son impact sur ses œuvres nées sociales». Peer Gynt donne d’emblée à Ibsen la not-
à 21h. Si l'opérette est cette fois-ci traitée d'une oriété internationale.
théâtrales.
façon nouvelle puisque les ballerines de la troupe du Parallèlement à la vie d’Henrik Ibsen qui dans la décennie
86 musiciens de l’orchestre symphonique du Caire et plus
ballet de l’opéra du Caire remplaceront les mar- de 65 choristes de la chorale A Cappella de l’Opéra du 1870, Ibsen s'éloigna de son point d'attache norvégien pour
ionnettes d’al-leila al-kébira, cependant, la composi- Caire joueront et chanteront une des plus célèbres com- devenir « européen », pour une période de vingt-sept ans, il
tion de Mékkawi et les paroles de Jahine restent in- positions musicales du compositeur et pianiste norvégien vécut à l'étranger, en Italie et en Allemagne. Il avait quitté
changeables. de notoriété de la période romantique, Edvard Hagerup son pays natal à 36 ans, et ce n'est qu'à 63 ans qu'il revint à
Grieg (1843-1907). Cette musique de scène est composée Christiania où il mourut à l'âge de 78 ans il était, comme on
Cinéma italien spécialement pour le fameux drame d’Henrik Ibsen: Peer l'a déjà dit, profondément marqué par son pays qu'il avait
La terra est un film Italien de Sergio Rubini, avec Gynt. quitté en 1864 et qu'il ne devait retrouver qu'une fois devenu
Fabrizio Bentivoglio et Claudia Gerini qui sera projeté Contrairement à la plupart des œuvres théâtrales d’Hen- une célébrité vieillissante. Ce n'était pas chose facile pour lui
le 23 octobre au centre culturel italien, à 21h. Le film rik Ibsen. Il est à savoir que Peer Gynt est écrite en vers. de rentrer en Norvège. Les longues années passées à
est centré sur l'événement de quatre frères que suite Elle traite d’une histoire fantastique, plutôt qu'une tragédie l'étranger, et le long combat qu'il avait mené pour conquérir
réaliste, thème plus commun dans les pièces postérieures la renommée, avaient laissé des traces nettes. Il se sentait
à une controverse liée à l'héritage paternel se ret-
d'Ibsen. Cette pièce relate l'histoire d'un «anti-héros» qui apatride, même dans son pays.
rouvent après beaucoup d'ans dans le pays d'origine
défi le monde, rate tout ce qu'il entreprend et ne tarde pas Il en est de même pour son personnage Peer Gynt
en se soumettant à une com-
à sentir sa complète solitude. L'amertume qui s'en dégage qu’Ibsen lui a parfaitement créé une scène qui reflète mag-
paraison qui réouvre des an- nifiquement cette situation conflictuelle (entre le per-
de Peer Gynt est plus centrée sur une critique acerbe de la
ciennes blessures et vieux Henrik sonnage et l’auteur). C'est celle où Peer Gynt, vieilli, est
société. Perre Gynt, le personnage principal de la pièce,
contrastes. est un jeune homme qui tente de fuir la réalité par le men- Ibsen contraint de régler ses comptes avec lui-même, sur le
songe. «En quête d'aventure et d'amour, il se retrouve chemin le ramenant à son point de départ norvégien. Peer
Film français dans un monde de lutins et de démons. Il enlève Ingrid, Peer Gynt est une pièce qui diffère de la plupart des Gynt commence à se voir lui-même tel qu'il a été toute sa
Kramer contre Kramer de Robert Ben- promise à un autre. Il s'éprend par ailleurs de Solveig, qui œuvres théâtrales d’Ibsen, et précisément de son premier vie, et dans la scène en question, il ramasse par terre un
ton, avec Dustin Hoffman. Le jour même d'abord l'éconduit, puis finalement l'accepte. Après un saut drame Catilina dans laquelle, il a été influencé par les oignon. Tout en revoyant sa vie corrompue, il se met à pel-
de sa promotion dans son entreprise, Ted Kramer dans le temps de 30 ans, on retrouve Peer Gynt au Maroc, événements révolutionnaires de 1848, au Norvège et s’af- er l'oignon. Chaque pelure évoque les différents rôles qu'il
apprend que sa femme, Joanna, le quitte car elle lui où il fait fortune dans l'esclavage. Son navire, contenant firme alors comme poète lyrique et national qui a suivi un a endossés. Mais le cœur, il ne le trouve pas. Dans son
reproche de trop se consacrer à son travail. Malgré toutes ses richesses, lui est volé par son partenaire, mais stage au théâtre de Copenhague, puis à Dresde qui le fa- oeuvre, Ibsen dépeint la classe moyenne de son temps,
tout, elle lui laisse la charge de leur jeune fils, Billy, et coule lors d'une tempête. Peer Gynt, alors pauvre, se miliarise avec la technique théâtrale, dont il va apprendre des êtres qui, dans la vie de tous les jours, sont confrontés
Ted se révèle peu à peu un excellent père cé- tourne vers Dieu. Attaqué par des singes, il se retrouve toutes les finesses. soudain à une crise qui va les bouleverser profondément.
libataire. Le 29 octobre, à 20h au centre culturel dans le désert et est sauvé par la découverte d'une oasis. Il Dans une autre démarche et loin du romantisme qui ca- Les drames réalistes contemporains de Henrik Ibsen ont
y rencontre Anitra, qui lui vole ses derniers biens. Vieux et ractérisait, d’autre part, les œuvres d’Ibsen, ses débuts. Ce fait de lui, l'un des personnages les plus considérables de
français d’Alexandrie.
pauvre, Peer Gynt rentre chez lui et doit se battre pour réc- dernier aborde dans Peer Gynt le drame philosophique, l'histoire du théâtre. Peer Gynt est un spectacle d’une
upérer son âme. Solveig, sa protectrice, finit par le sauver.» tout en focalisant la lumière dans ses œuvres, sur « l’in- heure et 45 minutes, à ne pas rater.
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