"
Cartouche Dimanche
Equipe de rédaction:
Abdel Massih Felli 3 Juin 2007
Dalia Victor 26 Bachans 1723
Michael Victor Rédacteur en chef Directrice de rédaction 17 Gamad el-Aoual 1428
Névine Lameï Youssef Sidhom Laura Hakim 2 ème ANNEE
Caroline Onsy, Nermine Onsy NUMERO 57
Révision:
Rafik Baracat
La crise du Darfour
L'Egypte: les sanctions
ne pourraient jamais
résoudre les problèmes Aboul Gheit
Abdel Massih Felli dossier. L'ambassadeur de la Russie Vitaly Churkin a pré- et permette aux représentants des or-
senté une opinion similaire, rappelant que le secrétaire génér- ganisations humanitaires de travailler
al de l'ONU Ban Ki-moon fait des démarches auprès du Sou- efficacement dans la zone du conflit.
D es pays occidentaux, dont les Etats-Unis, ont adopté, dan et qu'il avait eu "des développements positifs".
Les sanctions économiques prises par les Etats-Unis contre
Le ministre des Affaires étrangères
Ahmed Aboul Gheit a déclaré que les
au Conseil de sécurité, des sanctions supplémentaires contre le gouvernement du Soudan entraîneront l'escalade de la ten- sanctions ne pourraient jamais per-
le Soudan. L'ambassadeur des Etats-Unis auprès de l'ONU, sion dans la région et frapperont les simples citoyens de cet mettre de résoudre les problèmes, y
Zalmay Khalilzad, a affirmé que son pays menait des consulta- immense pays africain, a déclaré au Caire le Secrétaire génér- compris celui du Darfour. "Les né-
tions avec ses alliés au sein du Conseil de sécurité en vue al de la Ligue arabe Amr Moussa. Il existe une chance réelle gociations seront le meilleur moyen
d'une résolution qui devrait imposer des sanctions écon- de régler problème du Darfour par des moyens diplomatiques pour mettre fin aux conflits", a affirmé
omiques et militaires supplémentaires au Soudan. L'am- et politiques, a-t-il souligné. Le président américain a annoncé Aboul Gheit. Il a souligné qu'il fallait
bassadeur de France Jean-Marc de la Sablière a exprimé son de nouvelles sanctions unilatérales contre le gouvernement du un processus politique, en citant les
soutien prudent à l'idée des Etats-Unis, disant que peut-être Soudan, conformément auxquelles les Etats-Unis privent efforts déployés par le Soudan, l'ONU
les sanctions ne sont pas nécessaires, peut-être elles le sont. d'accès à leur système financier plus de 30 compagnies et l'Union africaine dans le règlement
Le président américain George W. Bush a annoncé que les contrôlées par les autorités soudanaises. Les sanctions con- de la crise du Darfour. Aboul Gheit a
Etats-Unis allaient faire pression sur les entreprises d'Etat cernent également les actifs appartenant à trois dirigeants du qui se poursuit depuis février 2003 a fait 200 000 morts. rappelé un message envoyé par le secrétaire général de
soudanaises, y compris celles du secteur pétrolier. Soudan. Selon Washington, ces mesures inciteront les dir- Les Etats-Unis exigent que le président du Soudan Omar l'ONU Ban Ki-moon et le président de la Commission de l'Un-
L'ambassadeur de l'Afrique du Sud, Dumisani Kumalo, a ex- igeants soudanais à prendre des mesures concrètes en vue Hassan Al Bachir règle le problème du déploiement sur le ter- ion Africaine Alpha Oumar Konaré au président soudanais
primé son opposition à l'adoption de nouvelles sanctions con- de régler le conflit intérieur qui dure depuis plusieurs années ritoire du Soudan d'une force de paix mixte de l'ONU et de Omer Al Béchir à propos de la position du Soudan sur le dé-
tre le Soudan et a appelé les parties à être patientes sur ce au Darfour, province occidentale du pays, où la guerre civile l'Union africaine, qu'il mette fin au soutien des milices janjawid ploiement d'une force hybride ONU-UA au Darfour.
Factions palestiniennes au Caire
La médiation égyptienne mettra-t-elle fin à la montée des violences en Palestine?
multanée, surtout dans la bande de Gaza". très impliqué dans ce dossier sensible, qui lien, deux civils ont été tués dans
L e Hamas a accepté, il y a quelques jours,
Selon le négociateur de l'Autorité pa-
lestinienne, Saeb Erekat, des pourparlers sont
transmet l'offre de réunion à la délégation du
Hamas, avec laquelle il a des entretiens, et
la ville de Sdérot par l'explosion de
roquettes. Les discussions se sont
de se rendre à une réunion pour discuter avec en cours avec l'Union européenne afin de re- participe à la gestion de la réunion. concentrées sur les moyens de
les autres factions palestiniennes, à l'invitation venir au calme dans les territoires palestiniens. Cette délégation est conduite par Moussa renforcer la trêve, a déclaré le chef
du Caire. Les négociations visent à mettre fin à "Les Palestiniens souhaitent une trêve", a-t-il Abou Marzouk, vice-directeur politique de ce de la diplomatie égyptienne. Les
la montée des violences avec Israël et à éviter déclaré. Une délégation du Fatah, conduite par mouvement, qui cohabite, au sein du gou- entretiens palestiniens au Caire
la guerre civile dans les territoires palestiniens . Rawhi Fattouh, envoyé spécial de Mahmoud vernement d'union nationale, avec le Fatah. "visent à l’échange d’informations,
Des membres du Fatah ont d'ores et déjà Abbas, s’est trouvée au Caire où elle s'est en- Les membres de cette délégation en prov- à trouver un accord sur les étapes
rencontré des représentants égyptiens. Des tretenue avec des responsables égyptiens de enance de Gaza, qui étaient attendus ce mar- pouvant consolider le cessez-le-
représentants de Syrie et de Gaza sont pré- la sécurité qui a également rencontré, séparé- di au Caire, ne peuvent parvenir en Egypte feu et les moyens de soutenir l’Au-
sents aux pourparlers du Caire, dont le thème ment, des délégations du Hamas et de trois au- avant ces mercredi ou jeudi, le passage de torité palestinienne".
central est "dialogue national palestinien", dir- tres mouvements palestiniens. Rafah étant fermé mardi, a-t-on précisé de Par ailleurs, le président Abbas
igés par le général Omar Souleyman, le chef Abdel Hakim Awadh, un responsable de la source palestinienne. Les responsables égyp- ainsi que les représentants de plu-
des renseignements égyptiens. L'Egypte es- délégation du Fatah, a indiqué que cette offre tiens ont aussi rencontré des représentants sieurs factions se sont réunis jeudi
time en effet que seule la fin des hostilités inter- de réunion a été faite à la délégation du Ha- du Jihad islamique, du Front populaire de lib- pour tenter de trouver une position
palestiniennes pourra donner lieu à une trêve mas, et que le Fatah a donné son feu vert à ération de la Palestine (FPLP) et du Front dé- commune sur le cessez-le-feu
avec Israël. cette réunion qui a commencé il y a quelques mocratique de libération de la Palestine avec Israël, la fin du tir des ro-
A la veille des pourparlers, l'ensemble des Rencontre Abbas/Haniyeh en Palestine pour régler les
heures, et qui vise à consolider une trêve frag- (FDLP). quettes et des attaques is-
différends entre Fatah et Hamas
mouvements palestiniens ont appelé à ce ile dans les violences interpalestiniennes dans Par ailleurs, le chef de la diplomatie égyp- raéliennes à Gaza. Le président
qu'une éventuelle trêve avec Israël s'étende à la bande de Gaza. Du 11 au 16 mai, la bande tienne Ahmed Aboul Gheit a appelé Israël à quettes en menant notamment 61 raids aériens leur a demandé d'arrêter les at-
la Judée-Samarie. Salah Bardaweel, un rep- de Gaza a été le théâtre d'affrontements meur- mettre fin à ses raids aériens dans la bande de qui ont visé surtout des objectifs du Hamas, re- taques sur les villes israéliennes, les qualifiant
résentant du Hamas, a affirmé qu'"il ne peut triers entre les mouvements rivaux Fatah et le Gaza, demandant aussi aux Palestiniens la fin sponsable de la plupart de ces tirs. Ces at- d'absurdes. Les factions ont insisté sur le fait
pas y avoir de cessez-le-feu unilatéral. Si Israël Hamas qui ont fait 50 morts. C'est le chef des des tirs de roquettes sur le sol israélien. Depuis taques ont fait 48 morts parmi les Palestiniens, que le cessez-le-feu doit inclure la Cisjordanie.
veut une paix, elle devra être mutuelle et si- renseignements égyptiens, Omar Souleimane, deux semaines, Israël a riposté à ces tirs de ro- dont plus d'une dizaine de civils. Du côté israé- A.M
En Bref A 83 ans, Shimon Peres à nouveau
candidat à la présidentielle
allusion notamment à sa défaite surprise lors de
l’élection présidentielle en l’an 2000 face à Moshé
Katzav, le candidat de la droite.
France Numéro deux du gouvernement, Shimon Peres,
Aux législatives, "nous visons au premier tour 30% des suf- Le vétéran de la classe politique israélienne Shim-
on Peres, prix Nobel de la paix avec Yasser Arafat Prix Nobel de la Paix et doyen du Parlement, jouit
frages", déclare le premier secrétaire du PS François Hollande, à
une dizaine de jours du scrutin. "C'est un scénario réaliste!" af- en 1994, est candidat à la présidence de l'Etat. d’une aura internationale alors qu’il a longtemps été
firme-t-il dans un entretien publié jeudi dans "La Provence". En présentant mercredi à 83 ans sa candidature à mal aimé dans son propre pays. Mais selon les
François Hollande se dit "confiant. La prise de conscience s'est la présidence, le vétéran de la classe politique is- sondages, il est de loin le candidat préféré des Israé-
faite au sein du PS mais je reste vigilant. Je ne laisserai aucun dé- raélienne Shimon Peres veut tenter de faire mentir liens pour le poste de président, une fonction avant
bat interne se tenir avant l'heure.Désormais, nous sommes tous
sa réputation d’éternel perdant. «J’ai décidé de ré- tout protocolaire. Le président Katzav, tombé en
mobilisés autour d'un seul objectif: avoir le maximum de députés
le soir du 17 juin". pondre à la demande de nombreux Israéliens, dont L’Actualité dans disgrâce en raison de son implication présumée
le Premier ministre, des députés et des gens du dans une affaire de viol, a été suspendu fin janvier
Iran peuple pour apporter ce qui sera peut-être mon ul- la presse Française de ses fonctions. Le vote auquel participeront les
time contribution au service de ce pays», a expliqué 120 députés du Parlement est prévu le 13 juin.
L'Iran a envisagé récemment de sus- Shimon Peres, longtemps prophète d’un «nouveau
Shimon Peres. dans le monde. Figure historique du parti travailliste,
pendre partiellement son programme d'en- Proche-Orient» censé devenir un havre de paix et de
richissement de l'uranium, mais les condi- Shimon Peres a pratiquement exercé toutes les il s'est rallié en 2006 à Kadima, le parti centriste
fonctions ministérielles. Il a été deux fois chef de d’Ehud Olmert. prospérité, a obtenu en 1994 le prix Nobel de la paix
tions présentées par Téhéran ont été
rejetées par Washington, Paris et Londres, gouvernement, et est également considéré comme Shimon Peres détient sans doute un record des en compagnie de Yitzhak Rabin et Yasser Arafat
ont déclaré des diplomates proches du le «père» du programme nucléaire israélien qui a échecs aux législatives qu’il a perdues cinq fois, et pour son rôle moteur dans les ac-
dossier mercredi, à la veille d'une ren- fait de l’Etat hébreu la sixième puissance atomique ce pour la dernière fois en 1996. «J’ai connu des cords d’Oslo, conclus avec Yasser
contre entre les envoyés de l'Iran et de échecs, mais aussi des succès», a-t-il admis, faisant Arafat en 1993.
l'UE à Madrid. Par conséquent, Téhéran a retiré son offre, ajoute-
t-on de même source. Les parties campent donc de nouveau sur
leurs positions, soulignent ces diplomates, qui n'attendent pas de Bush a choisi le nouveau patron de la Banque Mondiale
progrès lors des discussions qui doivent avoir lieu jeudi entre le
principal négociateur iranien sur le nucléaire Ali Larijani, et le chef La Maison Blanche a proposé Robert Zoellick pour succéder à Paul Wolfowitz, mis à l’écart
de la diplomatie de l'Union européenne Javier Solana. pour népotisme.
Le président américain George W. Bush a officiellement proposé Robert Zoellick pour pren-
Somalie dre la présidence de la Banque mondiale. Hier, un haut responsable américain sous couvert
Les alliés de l'Otan étudient une demande de l'Union africaine d'anonymat avait déjà divulgué l'information que Washington devait confirmer aujourd'hui.
concernant le transport aérien de ses troupes en Somalie, selon Cet ancien représentant américain au Commerce (USTR) et ex-numéro deux du départe-
un responsable de l'Alliance atlantique. Le responsable a ajouté ment d'Etat avait quitté ce poste l’an dernier pour rejoindre la banque d’affaires Goldman
que ce soutien prendrait sans doute une forme proche de celui qui Sachs. Proche de Condoleezza Rice, il a notamment contribué à lancer le cycle de négocia-
est fourni aux soldats de l'UA dans la région soudanaise du Dar- tion de Doha à l’OMC et à faire entrer la Chine dans l’organisation du commerce mondial. A 53
four, où des avions de l'Otan contribuent depuis 2005 à l'envoi de ans, il jouit de contacts de haut niveau en Europe, en Chine, en Afrique et en Amérique latine.
renforts et aux rotations de personnels d'effectifs militaires. Il devrait ainsi succéder à Paul Wolfowitz, qui avait été contraint d'annoncer son départ le 17
mai après six semaines de crise dans une affaire de népotisme. Il était accusé d'avoir per-
sonnellement demandé l'avancement de sa compagne
Sierra Leone La proposition de George Bush devra recevoir l’aval des administrateurs des autres pays à
Tony Blair, qui fait ses adieux au la Banque Mondiale. Mais une tradition, de plus en plus remise en cause, veut que le choix
continent africain, a reçu mercredi américain soit automatiquement validé, selon un partage des pouvoirs qui laisse les Eu-
en Sierra Leone la distinction hon- ropéens libres de nommer le chef du Fonds monétaire international.
orifique de chef suprême, en re-
connaissance des efforts déployés
par la Grande-Bretagne pour mettre
fin à la guerre civile dans ce pays
d'Afrique de l'Ouest. 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
"
20.
"
Watani Francophone Sunday
3 June 2007
26 Bashans 1723
Editor-in-chief Managing Editor
17 Gamada al-Awwal 1428
Youssef Sidhom Samia Sidhom YEAR 7
ISSUE 329
Page 5 - 6
Editorial
Problems on hold
That extra Rejoice, O Egypt! Be glad and exult for joy,
you Egypt,
All children of Egypt, even to its’
furthest borders.
The only Merciful, who was
before the beginning of time,
Has come to you.
sensitivity
Together with the divine
Mary and the Righteous Joseph.
Amen.
God the exalted who rides
Last Friday, on the Cherubs,
Youssef Sidhom
24 Bashans Has been seen in the land
of Egypt.
As I commented on the sectarian violence or 1 June, We saw Him, He who created
which lately erupted in the village of Bemha in the Coptic heaven and earth.
Ayaat, Giza, I suggested that Egyptian society is He the Divine in Mary’s arms,
today bedevilled by a perilous incidence of grow- Church
The new heaven led by Joseph
ing fanaticism. That fanaticism, which remains celebrated the Righteous.
among the issues society and authorities place on You are the eternal, honoured
hold, is frequently expressed through a call for the feast
by angels.
Jihad by a mosque imam, which triggers a mas- of the entry To Egypt you came this day,
sive wave of assault and looting against Christian To liberate your people.
villagers because of their alleged intention to of the
Lord, have mercy according
build a church. The assailants, prodded along by Holy Family to your grace.
the imam’s fanatic address, decide to take the law in Egypt
in their own hands and attack the Copts, believing Prayer from the Basilius
they are thus doing Islam the greatest favour ever. liturgy doxology:
Under the false pretext of defending Islam, ignor- The Lord’s entry into Egypt
ant mobs wreak havoc and inflict ruin on innocent Compiled by Marie Tonkin
Christians. The picture looks even bleaker once
the shameful role played by the security apparatus
and local authorities becomes apparent. Through
falsifying the facts, withholding evidence that im-
plicates the culprits, and fabricating a theatrical
reconciliation process, these authorities join forc-
es to draw the curtain down on the incident, de-
luding public opinion into believing that all’s well
that ends well. Victims and offenders are treated
A church in our midst
on equal terms, playing the role of naughty boys
engaged in a fight, while officials perform the
Naj al-Uleiqat Anba Pimen talks
role of the wise father pursuing a reconciliation
among his sons to preserve the unity of the fami- One of the Muslim residents of the village of of the congregation has to travel to Nader Shukry
ly. As for breaching the law, burning, looting, in- Following the Uleiqat incident, Watani talked to Anba Pimen, bishop of
Naj-al-Ulaiqat in Qena, Upper Egypt, who Quos some nine kilometers away, or Emad Khalil Naqada and Quos.
flicting destruction upon, and terrorising innocent asked for his name to be withheld, told Watani to Hegaza, 16km off, to go to church."
people, they are discounted as mere "kids’ play" it was unacceptable to have a church in a vil- Rumours of a church being built
that is swept away through a sham of a rec- Watani: To begin with, how many Copts are there in Naj al-Uleiqat?
lage full of mosques. The Muslims, he exp- triggered the Friday violence, another Copt Anba Pimen: Uleiqat is home to 100 Coptic families, [families in rural Egypt are ex-
onciliation. lained, were not used to a church amidst them. from the Uleiqat, Anwar Uteitta, told Watani.
This scenario is repeated year in year out, con- tended ones; a family may compromise some 20 members] and there are some 30 oth-
Besides, the number of Copts in the Naj (Egyp- That fateful Friday, a mob from the sur- er families who live in nearby hamlets and whom we serve along with those of Ulei-
veying a message to law breakers, fanatics and tian for small village) does not warrant build- rounding villages marched on Uleiqat, chanting
criminals that they can gat away with their crimes qat. This makes the total number of families 130. There is no church, only a small
ing a place for worship, since they could go "There is no God but Allah ... On to Jihad." mud brick house or guest house in which gatherings and celebrations are held. Holy
and escape penalty. It costs them nothing to im- pray in the church in the town of Quos some Some rational people tried to contain the situa-
pose sequestration upon Copts, their churches, Mass is conducted using a mobile altar, and Sunday schools are held every week.
nine kilometres away, he remarked. tion, as well as the security forces, who guard-
and their right to worship. No matter how grave ed the homes of the Copts. These, Utteita said, Did you apply for a licence to build a church, or for a security permit to do so?
an incident may be, all it takes to settle the con- occupy four parallel streets in one area of the I became bishop of Naqada and Quos in 1991 and, in 2001, I made a verbal request to
flict is some honeyed rhetoric harping on the tol- Paradox
Our interlocutor summed up the entire problem. Naj, and the Copts are mostly skilled car- the authorities to build a church. Three years later, I submitted an official request to
erance of Islam and its respect of "people of the penters and woodworkers. Everything is quiet Pope Shenouda III and to the security directorate in Qena. At the beginning of 2006,
Book". As for concepts of citizenship rights, free- Two weeks ago, on the afternoon of Friday 25
May, Muslim young men from neighbouring now, he said, but there has been no reaction and right after President Mubarak issued a decree facilitating the building and restora-
dom of faith, equality, social peace and the rule of from the tion of churches, the papal secretary
law, they may all be sidelined on grounds that villages converged upon Naj-al-Ulaiqat in an
aggressive demonstration of protest against Muslims Anba Youa'nnis told me we could con-
preserving society’s stability is of first priority. and no duct prayers in the Holy Virgin's
Last but not least, the State refrains from com- rumours that Copts were expanding a house
they owned and in which they conducted apology. Church in Udaisat and St George's
pensating Copts whose homes were burnt and Church in Uleiqat. We preferred to
property destroyed, under the pretext that the ruin religious services, into a church. The attack
came from outside Uleiqat, and was confronted Cause pray first in the Holy Virgin's Church
was not caused by a natural disaster. because it serves more than 5000 peo-
It is thus the fate of attacks against Copts, their and halted by the Muslims of Uleiqat and the for anger
security forces. No damage was done. Hisham ple, but this led to the infamous sectar-
homes, land, businesses, and property, to be rel- ian violence in Udaisat. Our request
egated to obscurity, delusion, and oblivion. The So how can the Muslims’ protection of their Makhlouf,
Christian neighbours be explained within the Quos pros- then came to a standstill. But the secur-
culprits are never indicted or penalised, for the Anba ity authorities gave us permission to
simple reason that they are Muslim and the vic- paradox of the formers’ aversion to having a ecutor, told
church in their midst? Watani that Pimen pray at Christmas this year.
tims are Coptic. Obviously, authorities exercise
excessive sensitivity in cases of Muslim assaults "The Friday attack was an expression of Mus- the prosecu- Do the Muslims annoy the Copts be-
against Christians and their churches. Authorities lim rejection of the idea of building a church. tion office cause they wish to build a church?
unhesitatingly bringing to justice law breakers But Uleiqat Copts and Muslims have always had received no complaints; The Muslims do not object when we held
who may be implicated in cases of corruption, lived side by side in peace, with all due respect there was no damage or in- our prayers. We maintain good relations
murder, rape, or whatever offence. Every day, and affection," the man who talked to us said. jury, while the head of the with them. Some of them take from our
courts issue rulings against culprits—whatever Haj Mahmoud Abu-Sadeq, who is a Uleiqat investigation department, qurban bread and holy water as a form of
their religion may be—for various crimes. But farmer, asserted that Copts and Muslims in the Ayman Fathi, said the in- blessing and to ward off evil. They even
when it comes to Muslims attacking Christians, or Naj live in peace, enjoying close ties. The cident had been overstated, and could at best be ask the priests to pray for them, their plants and their cattle.
when the matter in question is a church, affairs Friday incident, Abu-Sadeq said, was nothing described as a minor event.
take a different turn. but unwise behaviour by some young people "Our village has never known any fanaticism What about the reconciliation gatherings following attacks against Copts?
The official persistence in handling violence who circulated rumours that Copts were en- or sectarian violence," Hisham al-Qadhi, MP Reconciliation gatherings may sometimes work to dissipate antagonism and dis-
against Copts and their churches as a clash be- deavouring to build a church. "Why should a for Quos, commented. "I have a good ties with cord, but letting the offenders get off clean handed is a huge mistake. The law
tween Muslims and Christians—with all the sen- small population establish a church among the the bishop Anba Pimen, who is well-loved by should be applied justly and impartially.
sitivity such an issue implies—is a grave mistake thousands of Muslims?" Abu-Sadeq asked in all Quos people, he noted. Anba Pimen never
open condemnation. Who exactly impedes the licensing of churches?
that should be bravely addressed and uprooted. asked my help to inaugurate a church, which Our right to build churches is lost amid complicated, seemingly endless bu-
Egypt is not experiencing conflict between its would be one of my official duties, meaning reaucracy and security checks. We pay taxes and serve our country as loyal cit-
Muslims and Christians at large, but is before The carpenters that the Copts have no licence to build a izens, so the least we can expect is to be granted the right to worship. And fol-
crimes committed by misled Muslims against But Youssef Istafanous, a 53-year-old Chris- church." lowing every sectarian event, the authorities point guilty fingers at expatriate Copts
their Christian neighbours. Excessive sensitivity tian who works with the holding company for Mohamed Mahmoud Ben-Farag, a member and accuse them of tarnishing Egypt's image. I believe if we don't cover ourselves,
merely serves to cripple justice and let the crim- drinking water, said, "We built the house we of the agricultural society at the village, com- we just can't ask others to shut their eyes at our nakedness.
inals run free. The beginning of the proper ap- now pray in, termed by many as the guest mented that: "A church in the village would
proach to the Bemha incident is to admit that the house, of mud bricks some 40 years ago, and represent a problem, and stir anger against the Do you think it is high time for a unified law for places of worship?
offenders are criminals before being Muslim and have been praying there three times a week Copts. As a minority, they are not entitled to a Yes indeed. Why should the State ignore a right a sector of Egyptians? The state
the victims are Egyptian before being Coptic. ever since. We need a proper church however, church; they go to Quos to pray every Sunday. should treat a church like a mosque. We need clear legislation which would then be
he said, since this house is too small and most Most Muslims reject the idea of a church." executed, and would not be mere ink on paper.
Infant mortality down ple. A similar programme ran last year in Minya, Upper Egypt.
N In a report by "Save the Children", Egypt ranked first among
60 countries in significantly reducing mortality rates among in-
fants. The mortality rate dropped from 104 deaths per 1,000 in
Until restored
Until restoration work in the Greco-Roman Museum in Alex-
1990 to 33 per 1,000 in 2005. andria is completed, a process which began last month and is
E New airport
Sharm al-Sheikh airport has got a new terminal. The new
expected to take some 18 months, the Supreme Council of
Antiquities has decided to showcase a collection of Greco-
Roman antiquities in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The collec-
building cost some LE494 million and should accommodate tion includes marble statues of ancient gods, discovered in
W 7.5 million passengers annually instead of the previous 3.5 mil-
lion. It spreads over some 45,000 metres, is two floors high,
and is equipped with the latest explosives detection device, the
1936 in a temple in Sidi Bishr, Alexandria.
Box of delights
first to be used in Egyptian airports. President Hosni Mubarak, Starting 13 June, an exhibition of Spanish contemporary pho-
S Stunning baby
Rome’s main zoo has successfully bred several rare
Egyptian tortoises whose parents were rescued from a
who himself was an air force pilot, inaugurated the new ter-
minal last week, and visited a photography ex-
hibition that was held to commemorate the 75th
tographer Ciuco Gutiérrez’ works will be held at Amir Taz Pal-
ace in Cairo. Gutiérrez began his career as a
journalist, and later became a full-time photog- Tomb in Minya
smuggler’s suitcase in 2005. The first egg hatched last anniversary of EgyptAir. Sharmal-Sheikh air- rapher in 1985. He was involved in the pop re- An ancient Egyptian tomb
L April, six more followed in May, and several more
were expected to hatch, said Stefano Micarelli, the
head reptile keeper at Rome’s Biopark zoo. The Egyp-
port reportedly receives 20 per cent of inter-
national flights to Egypt.
vival of the 1980’s in Madrid. In 1990 he was
granted the Kodak Award. Ciuco was fascinat-
ed for long time by the secret life of objects.
complete with funereal fur-
niture has been discovered in
Deir al-Barsha in Minya,
tian tortoises, distinctive by their small size and golden Combat youth violence Rubbish containers discovered in friends Upper Egypt. A Belgian mis-
I hue, are very difficult to maintain in captivity, re-
quiring the very warm and dry climate they find in
their native desert habitats—currently found mainly in
Last Sunday, the Alliance for Arab Women
(AAW) launched a programme to combat vi-
olence among youth. The project, supported by
homes or souvenir stalls created a very per-
sonal language to express the memories as-
sociated with objects. His studio became a box
sion unearthed the tomb of
Heno, who was responsible for
religious endowments in 21st
Libya. The reptile is protected by the Convention on the UK government’s Global Opportunities of delights that opens up with the spontaneity century BC. A large number of
N International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES.
In October 2005, authorities at Rome’s Leonardo da
Vinci airport became suspicious when they noticed a
Fund, will run for two years in two areas of Giza.
It aims at enhancing the role of families in pre-
venting youth from becoming disaffected or turn-
of children. The exhibition, which is organised
by the Spanish Embassy in Cairo jointly with
the Cultural Development Fund, will run till 27
small-sized wooden statutes
were found inside the tomb,
with white, red and black col-
passenger on a flight from Libya waiting impatiently ing to violence, empowering youth to express June. Gutiérrez will also offer a practical work- ours, as well as a statute for
E for his luggage. They stopped to check his luggage,
and found 275 of the rare tortoises, all but four of
whom were alive, packed in a bag.
their needs and interests through legitimate chan-
nels, and raising awareness of the importance of
heeding the needs of disadvantaged young peo-
shop on urban landscapes in contemporary
photography between 10 and 12 June at the
American University in Cairo.
Heno in official uniform.
Heno’s mummy was also found
inside a sarcophagus.
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
"
21.
2 Watani International 3 June 2007
Another Black Friday
The assault on the Copts of the village of Bemha in al-Ayaat, Giza, on 11 May Magdi Khalil Legal Deterrence
was the latest incident in a long series that goes back to the 1970s, when the Holy On the day following the Bemha incident last month, the defendants charged with
Bible Publishing House (Dar al-kitab al-Moqadas) in al-Khanka neighbourhood in • Friday 5 March 1993: Extremists murdered Adel Bushra, a Coptic resident of conducting the Udeisat assault in January 2006 were acquitted by court and cleared
Cairo was attacked and set on fire. Since the Khanka incident—which took place the village of Mir in Assiut, on his way home from church. of all charges. The attack had taken the life of a Coptic citizen; a Coptic child had
on 6 November 1972, the Copts have been at the receiving end of attacks that num- • Friday 11 March 1994: Extremists committed a massacre outside al-Muharraq died out of sheer terror; many had been injured and several property set on fire and
ber in the hundreds and vary in magnitude from minor harassment to major vicious monastery in Assiut, killing two monks and three Christian guests. destroyed; so who committed these atrocious acts? Had the Copts taken their own
assaults, with no end in sight. • Friday 3 February 1997: after Friday Prayer, a rabble attacked Coptic citizens in lives and destroyed their own properties? What message is the judiciary sending at
The perpetuation of oppression is blamed on a multitude of factors that work to- the village of Manafis, in Abu-Qurqas, destroying and plundering. this particular timing, in parallel to Ayaat incident?
gether to feed the fires of violence, some related to societal issues, and others to • Friday 14 February 1997: Extremists murdered three Copts in the village of In each case, the Copts were able to identify the suspects and state specific charg-
State institutions and its executive, legislative and judicial powers. A sequence of Kom al-Zaheir, Abu-Qurqas. es. It is not surprising that they recognised the instigators of the attack and those
events—where each act compliments the other—usually begins with an account • Friday 7 March 1997: After Friday Prayer, a rabble attacked a church in the vil- who did the killing, burning and pillage, after all, those assailants did not suddenly
that describes the incident or the attack perpetrated against the Copts, and ends with lage of Temsahiya in Assiut. They tore down the Cross and then turned their atten- land from Mars, they happened to be their neighbours and fellow countrymen. I
a court ruling that encourages, rather then abates, the perpetuation of this criminal tion to Christian-owned homes and shops causing severe damages. have dozens of names of suspects that were positively identified by the Copts and
behaviour. In between the beginning and the end of this vicious cycle, the shameful • Friday 14 August 1998: Extremists murdered two Copts in al-Kosheh in Sohag. reported to the authorities, but they were never indicted nonetheless. The verdicts
transgressions bring to the surface the strong undercurrents of injustice, dis- the Copts were later accused of torturing and killing them, and the conclusion of always appeared to encourage criminal violence against the Copts.
crimination and oppression. the incident is by now familiar. I monitored the court rulings in assault cases against the Copts between 1970 and
• Friday 31 December 1999: al-Kosheh horrific attack started on that day and 2007, in which hundred of Copts were killed. There was not a single death penalty.
Incident Description went on for three days, ending on 2 January 2000, spreading terror in the village, On the other hand, the assault on tourists and policemen warranted a death penalty
There is no ambiguity about the nature of the incidents in question, starting with and resulting in the death of 21 Copts and the utter destruction of dozens of Chris- in several instances, and many cases were transferred to the military courts which
Khanka, and until Ayaat; they all fall under a distinct category of hostile attacks tian-owned houses and shops. issued swift and severe verdicts.
against non-violent citizens and criminal offences that are, essentially, an assault on • Friday 7 November 2003: A rabble
the law and social peace. attacked Christian-owned shops and The People’s
However, for more then three decades, the Egyptian media’s portrayal of those in- property in the village of Gerza in al- Incidents that took place on days other than Friday Assembly
cidents was tainted by deliberate ambiguity and deception, taking the form of ad- Ayaat. Thirteen homes were looted and More often than not these attacks occurred on a Sunday or during special Coptic occasions Prior to the October
amant denials in some cases, total disregard in others, and worst of all, deceit and destroyed and five people were injured. and celebrations: War, the People’s As-
unscrupulous lies. The denial champions are adamant that there are no prejudices • Friday 3 December 2004: A rabble in (Mannshaa Dalw – Qalyoubiya, August 1978), (al-Tawfiqiya – Samalut, September 1978), sembly formed a fact-
against the Copts, hence no problem to be addressed; the incident is portrayed as an the village of Manqateen in Minya (Ismailiya, July 1980), (al-Zawya, al-Hamra – Cairo, June 1981), (Abu-Qurqas, 1989, Feb- finding committee
isolated case and fully blamed on a mentally unstable individual. The government- burned and destroyed the Coptic Church ruary 1990, March 1990), (Ain-Shams – Cairo, March 1990), (Sanhur – Fayoum, April 1990), headed by MP Gamal
owned media mostly ignores the issue, and either refrains from mentioning the in- and threatened the lives and property of (Minya Al-Qamh – Sharkiya, April 1990), (Manfalout – Assiut, April 1990), (Al-Nubariya, al-Oteify, to in-
cident altogether, or at best treats it as insignificant news that only merits a few Copts. May 1990), (Hosh-Eissa – Beheira, 1991), (Imbaba – Cairo, September 1991), (Sanabu and vestigate Khanka in-
lines in a back page. Coverage in many outlets is misleading and confusing, giving • Friday 14 October 2005 and 21 Oc- Dairut – Assiut, March 1992), (Dairut – Assiut, May 1992), (Sanabu – Assiut, June 1992), cident of November
a muddled account that leaves the reader unable to tell the aggressor from the vic- tober 2005: a rioting crowd made up of (Tema – Sohag, October 1992), (Assiut City, February, 1993), (al-Qoussiya – Assiut, March 1972. The committee
tim, and brandishing clichés such as sectarian strife, quarrels, sectarian clashes or thousands of angry Muslims marched on 1993), (al-Muharraq Monastery, Assiut, March, 1994), (Mir – Assiut, October 1994), (Kafr issued a balanced re-
disputes between Muslims and Copts, or even the pointless "an unfortunate in- St George’s church in Muharram Bey in Demian – Sharkiya, February 1996), (Al-Badari – Assiut, February 1996), (Al-Azab mon- port and significant
cident". Such expressions were chosen knowingly to convey a misleading image of Alexandria, and attacked Christian- astery – Fayoum, April 1996), (Tahta – Sohag, August 1996), (al-Fikreya, Abu-Qurqas, Feb- recommendations that
the attack, assigning equal blame to both parties, and ignoring the fact that Copts owned homes and shops, spreading ter- ruary 1997), (al-Timsaheya – Assiut, March 1997), (Ezbet Kamel Takla, Bahgoura – Nagah were never imple-
are a minority and hold little power in face of the overwhelming Muslim majority. ror among the Christians. Hamadi, March 1997), (Tahal-Aameda – Minya, August 1998), (Abu-Tig – Assiut, November mented. Un-
Some media outlets sunk as low as spreading despicable lies, claiming that the • Friday 16 April 2006: An extremist or 1998), (al-Kosheh – Sohag, August 1998 and January 2000), (Qasr Rashwan – Fayoum, Au- fortunately, it turned
Copts provoke the Muslim majority, and blaming the extremists on both sides, a group of extremists, armed with swords, gust 2000), (Beni Wallims – Maghagha, February 2002), (Manqateen – Samalut, December out that the in-
since according to their twisted logic, the Copts who object to an injustice are attacked four churches in Alexandria, a 2004), (Demshaw – Minya, January 2005), (Telwana, al-Bagour – Menoufiya, April 2005), vestigation and the re-
counted among extremists. Coptic citizen fell victim to this terrorist (al-Edr – Assiut, May 2005), (Kafr-Salama - Sharkiya, December 2005), (al-Udeisat – Qena, port were a mere
A serious resolution of a conflict requires, at the very least, a correct identification attack and five others were injured. January 2006) (Ezbet Wassef Ghali – al-Ayaat, February 2006), (Alexandria, May 1999, Oc- calming measure. In
and accurate description of the problem, to be carried out on the legal, social, secur- • Friday 11 May 2007: After Friday tober 2005 and April 2006), (Bemha – al-Ayaat, May 2007). the aftermath of the
ity and informative levels. Sadly, attacks on Copts were deliberately misrepresented Prayer, extremists attacked Christian- Alexandria incident in
to give false, misleading impressions, and the media’s portrayal could only be de- owned homes and shops in Bemha, in October 2005, the
scribed as dishonest, unprofessional, biased and unpatriotic. Ayaat. Reuters reported that 27 homes People’s Assembly
and shops were set aflame; ten homes and two shops were burnt down. Reuters formed another fact-finding committee, however the committee has yet to begin its
The Friday scenario also reported that in February 2007, a number of Christian-owned shops in Upper work, and I think it is safe to say that the issue has been dropped. In 1998, MP Mo-
In his antagonistic book "The national group, isolation and integration," Tariq al- Egypt were set on fire as a result of a rumoured love story between a Muslim girl hamed al-Goweili presented the draft of a unified law for places of worship, and nine
Bishri wrote: "the Egyptian Muslim receives his religious education publicly and a Christian young man. The Egyptian newspaper al-Masri al-Yom reported years later, the project remains shelved despite the fact that this particular law would
whether in schools or mosques ... But we do not know what is said about Islam and that kerosene was used to set on fire 25 homes and five shops owned by Christians, help reduce the violence against Christians, since a good number of the attacks against
Muslims in churches, or about Arabs and Arab nationalism either". and attacked their victims with clubs, white weapons and stones. Copts churches were supposedly triggered by the lack of a building permit. It makes
The answer can be found in the dozens of attacks against Copts which took place According to Ibn-Khaldun centre’s annual report, more then 120 violent sectar- one wonder why the project is dismissed even as the People’s Assembly finds it pos-
on a Friday and followed an almost identical scenario. A rumour is spread, a leaflet ian incidents took place during the period between the Khanka incident of 6 No- sible to discuss and issue new laws in a matter of a few hours, when it so desired.
is circulated among the crowds calling them to Jihad, and speaking of the triumph vember 1972 to the Alexandria incident of 21 October 2005. The incidents in Members of the People’s Assembly responded to remarks of the Culture Min-
of Islam and Muslims and the due punishment of infidels. The crowds who listen to question resulted in the death of Copts and required extensive security intervention. ister against the veil—hijab—with a furious tirade of outrage. In contrast, the
the fiery sermons of the Friday Prayers are incited to hatred and violence, and Furthermore, hundreds of minor incidents took place during that same period, but bloody attacks against Copts failed to spark anger, interest or compassion; the ap-
pushed to the edge; they rush out to engage in a mad round of killing, pillage, and they either failed to attract the media’s attention or were purposely ignored. In a athy alone says all there is to say.
destruction, preying on peaceful citizens. The angry crowds may number hundreds previous study, I deduced that more then 4000 Copts have either lost their lives or
or sometimes thousands, as was the case in Alexandria in October 2005. Ironically, were injured as a result of attacks carried out by Muslim extremists, and the dam-
ages inflicted on their property would amount to millions of dollars. To say nothing To sum up
at the conclusion of such incidents we get to listen to the rabble-rousers, who called The lack of an effective social and legal deterrence, the patent absence of a
for Jihad on the top of their lungs, as they now lament the "sedition" and curse of the untold damage done by the climate of terror that compelled many Copts to
seek a way out of their homeland. pluralistic societal culture, and the indifference of the executive, legislative and
those who stirred it!! Meanwhile, the Copts continue to mourn their losses, as they judicial powers have all worked to create an environment that breeds violence
wait fearfully for the next attack. against the Copts.
The following incidents were the outcome of this dreadful Friday scenario: The security approach Egyptian professional syndicates rush to help Muslims in Bosnia and Che-
• Friday 8 September 1972: following Friday Prayer, the rabble set on fire the Prevention of crime and protection of public property is the basic mission as- chan, and raise funds to support the cause of Jihad around the globe, but do
building of the Orthodox association "Al-Nahda" in Damanhur, Beheira. signed to public security services, and the overall success or failure of security nothing to relieve the suffering of their partners in the homeland, who diligent-
• Friday 2 March 1990: the rabble engaged in an extensive round of killing, burn- forces is tied to their ability to carry out this mission. Yet, I will neither discuss ly pay their membership fees and share in financing those syndicates.
ing, and pillage in the town of Abu-Qurqas in Minya. Dozens of houses, shops, and the security forces’ competence, nor examine their machinations and cover-up The Lawyers’ syndicate held a number of seminars in defence of Saddam Huss-
cars were set aflame, as was the YMCA, the Salvation of Souls (Khalas al-Nofous) that could be interpreted as indirect complicity in the attacks against the Copts. ein, and its attorney took charge of the defence of extremists. The suffering
society and the Catholic church of St George in Beni-Ebeid, Abu-Qurqas. Nor will I question the aggressive security campaigns that targeted Christian Copts, however, are denied such legal support. The victims of Kafr-Dimian could
• Friday 11 March 1999: Copts in Alexandria were attacked with machine guns, places of worship in Patmos, Shubral-Kheima, Assiut, Samalut, Anba Antonious not even get hold of the funds that were raised locally and abroad to rebuild the
resulting in the death of Father Shenouda Awad and his wife, Dr Kamal Rushdi, Mr monastery, and others. However, I will stick to the minimum level acceptable, village, and no one knows for certain what became of those funds.
Alfonse Rushdi, Mr Sami Abdu, Mr Boutros Bishay, and the child Michael Sabri. which is to give a truthful account of the incident and make an unbiased, honest I don’t believe a Dhimmi state would be much different.
• Friday 16 March 1990: an explosive device was thrown at St Mary’s Church in and accurate police report. It is regrettable that, for the past three decades, we Sadly, the institutions and culture of the Egyptian society could not keep cit-
Ain-Shams, Cairo. have not been able to obtain a single police report that meets this minimal re- izenship and religion apart, and the Copts live in a condition that is closer than
• Friday 20 September 1991: assailants armed with swords and clubs pillaged, de- quirement. The claims made in the last statement issued by the Interior Ministry not to the historical Dhimmi status.
stroyed and plundered Christian-owned residences and shops in al-Munira al- regarding the Bemha incident are proof enough of that failing: the statement in- Copts are being persecuted. Copts everywhere, inside and outside Egypt, cler-
Gharbiya in Imbaba, Cairo. dicated that only three Christian-owned homes were set on fire and only three gy or laymen, every one of them has a personal obligation to struggle against
• Friday 19 June 1992: Extremists in the village of Sanbu, Dairut, went on a ram- Copts suffered minor injuries. This follows the pattern set by former Interior this oppression, with all possible peaceful and legal means, on the local and in-
page, killing three Copts and destroying 64 houses and shops owned by Copts. Minister al-Nabawi Isamil at the al-Zawya al-Hamra, and the role played by po- ternational levels. Those who neglect this duty fail their community, their
Eight shops were burned to the ground. lice forces in al-Kosheh, Kafr-Dimian, Udeisat and Samalut. The tragic in- country, but first and foremost, they fail themselves.
• Friday 16 October 1992: Extremists charged into Coptic property in the city of cidents ended with the police detaining a number of Copts in a bid to force them
Tama, in Sohag and, for the duration of three hours, destroyed and plundered, mur- to accept a nominal reconciliation and give up not only their legal rights and their
dering two Copts and burning a church to the ground. right to just compensation, but also to the State’s right to thwart crime and so- Magdi Khalil is Executive Director of the Middle East Freedoms Forum.
• Friday 5 March 1993: the al-Qoussiya assault that cost Coptic lives and property. ciety’s right to security and peace. Magdi.khalil@yahoo.com
Between Bemha and the Emirates ously, more churches are needed. I felt very sorry, and
wondered what harm could there be in passing the uni-
Last month, Pope Shenouda III presided over the offi-
cial opening of a Coptic Orthodox Church, which was
consecrated to St Anthony, in Abu-Dhabi. Attending
fied law for places of worship? I hope that the citizen-
ship concepts launched in the last constitutional amend-
Watani Mail
were Emirati senior State officials, Egypt’s ambassador ments would materialise into real-life situations and not
remain mere rhetoric. Compiled by Victor Salama
to the UAE and members of the Egyptian embassy, as
well as the bishops and priests who had served the Coptic William Iskander, Amsterdam, Holland
congregation in Abu Dhabi during the past thirty years. tickets for Umra (lesser pilgrimage to Mecca and Me-
The event is unprecedented on the Arab, Emirati and Our new church dina), including travelling and accommodation I con-
Egyptian levels, and sends out a very clear message that We were very happy when our governor approved the gratulate the winners from my heart, but can’t there be
the United Arab Emirates respects coexistence, pluralism, building of a church in Mustaqbal new town. Finally we another prize so non-Muslims can play the lottery?
and freedom of belief. Compare this to the recent Bemha would be able to hold, in our home town, weddings for Tawfiq Mikhael, Heliopolis
incident when a mob of fanatics attacked, burned, and our sons and daughters, and funeral ceremonies for our
plundered the homes and property of Copts because they dead. We would also have a church nearer to home in- Governor’s visit corruption list. Unjust legislation that serves special
intended to build a church. To add insult to injury, the stead of having to travel to the nearest church in Is- interests, police brutality, money laundering, rampant
The streets of my home town of al-Quossiya in Assiut,
Copts were coerced into a traditional reconciliation mailiya. After the governor’s approval was granted we bureaucracy and bribery are all the outcome of corrup-
Upper Egypt, are the scene of a horrid dirt and pollu-
through which they renounced their legal rights. The at- prayed in the church for a week, but the following week tion. If we are at all serious about fighting corruption we
tion. Roads are unpaved, garbage piles up, and the san-
tackers thus run free—as in many previous incidents we were prevented by the security authorities from en- should forget about slogans and upbeat rhetoric, and
itary drainage system frequently fails. However, when
—and fanaticism is left untreated to ravage the Egyptian tering the church. All our congregation wants is a church should implement an incisive, immediate, effective op-
Assiut governor recently visited our town, an unusual
psyche. The Bible says that the Lord loathes both: the in town where we can practise our religious rituals. eration to uproot it.
move preceded; in less than two hours the roads of the
conviction of the innocent and the acquittal of the guilty. Umm-Essam Mikhael, Mustaqbal City Alfonse Mikhail, Cairo
area he would visit were paved and cleaned up. I there-
Nabil Kamel, Cairo Father Kyrillos Ibrahim of Ismailiya explained to fore sincerely invite the governor to come visit Assiut
Watani that Mustqbal church, which was named after St villages one by one. I can assure him of a warm wel- SOS
Prayer…in the context of citizenship rights Anthony, was opened before its finishing was completed. come, and the entire region would be cleaned up. Anyone who visits Luxor’s West Bank will be amazed
For more than half a century I was away from Egypt, After prayers were conducted there once to consecrate Ezzat Aziz, Quossiya at the new buildings that have cropped up all over. The
until this year when I had a chance to visit during Holy the church, the services were moved to another tem- sight shatters the distinction of a site that has long been
Week and Easter. The closest church to where I stayed porary site till the church is completed. The editor. Corruption galore famous for its natural beauty and ancient Egyptian his-
was the Saints Church in Sidi Bishr, Alexandria. On tory. I call upon intellectuals and all lovers of Egyptian
Corruption in Egypt has spread to the horrifying extent
Palm Sunday I was shocked at the crowds in the church. The Egyptian Mail heritage to campaign with the ministries of culture, en-
that people now accept it as normal practice. In a recent
Some 3000 people were trying to pray in a church that The Egyptian Mail Authority has announced it is run- vironment and media to ban building on Luxor’s West
report by Transparency International, Egypt ranked 70th
could accommodate no more than around 500. Obvi- ning a lottery for post office savings. The prize will be Bank, and to declare the site a national park.
among 163 countries on the political and administrative Zarif Kamel, Cairo
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22.
3 June 2007 Watani International 3
How to End 'Islamophobia' ANOTHER BLACK FRIDAY
Tawfik Hamid Yet according to CAIRʼs Michigan
spokeswoman, Zeinab Chami, I am “the latest
We Muslims should publicly show our
strong disapproval for the growing number of
FOR THE COPTS OF EGYPT
weapon in the Islamophobe arsenal.” If standing attacks by Muslims against other faiths and
Islamic organizations regularly accuse non- For the past three and half decades, the Copts insult to injury. The authorities conducted a
against the violent edicts of Shariah law is against other Muslims. Let us not even dwell on
Muslims of “Islamophobia,” a fear and disdain for (Christians of Egypt) have been targeted by meeting of “reconciliation” between the vic-
“Islamophobic,” then I will treat her accusation 9/11, Madrid, London, Bali and countless other
everything Islamic. On May 17, this accusation a wave of brutal attacks on their persons, tim Copts and the aggressors, where an im-
as a badge of honor. scenes of carnage. It has been estimated that of
bubbled up again as foreign ministers from the churches, homes and businesses. Ibn Khal- posed settlement virtually stripped the Copts
Muslims must ask what prompts this the two million refugees fleeing Islamic terror
Organization of the Islamic Conference called doun Research Center (headed by Human of all rights: Under the terms of the settle-
“phobia” in the first place. When we in the West in Iraq, 40% are Christian, and many of them
Islamophobia “the worst form of terrorism.” Rights advocate Saad Eddin Ibrahim) docu- ment, Muslims were not bound to pay for
examine the worldwide atrocities perpetrated seek a haven in Lebanon, where the Christian
These ministers also warned, according to the mented over one hundred and twenty major damages nor assume any criminal respon-
daily in the name of Islam, it is vital to question population itself has declined by 60%. Even in
Arab News, that this form of discrimination would attacks on the Copts during this period. An- sibility; and the house which was the center
if we--Muslims--should lay the blame on others Turkey, Islamists recently found it necessary to
cause millions of Muslims in Western countries, other study estimated that over 4000 Copts of dispute would be used only for Sunday
for Islamophobia or if we should first look hard slit the throats of three Christians for publishing
“many of whom were already underprivileged,” were killed or injured during this period, not school classes and the cross may not be dis-
at ourselves. Bibles.
to be “further alienated.” to mention the material losses, in tens of Mil- played on the building..
According to a recent Pew Global Attitudes Of course, Islamist attacks are not limited
In America, perhaps the most conspicuous lions of Dollars, and the state of fear and mass Once again, the Egyptian Government for-
survey, “younger Muslims in the U.S. are much to Christians and Jews. Why do we hear no
organization to persistently accuse opponents of immigration that followed. goes its duty to prosecute lawbreakers and
more likely than older Muslim Americans to say Muslim condemnation of the ongoing slaughter
Islamophobia is the Council of American Islamic One phenomenal one canʼt help but observe guarantee the safety of its citizens. And, once
that suicide bombing in the defense of Islam can of Buddhists in Thailand by Islamic groups? Why
Relations. CAIR has taken up the legal case of is that much of these attacks took place af- again, the Copts are denied basic justice and
be at least sometimes justified.” About one out was there silence over the Mumbai train bombings
the “Flying Imams,” the six individuals who were ter attending the Muslim Friday prayers in the fundamental right to pray in peace with-
of every four American Muslims under 30 think which took the lives of over 200 Hindus in 2006?
pulled from a US Airways flight in Minneapolis mosques. Most significant, also, is that the vast out been harassed. Ironically, only days after
suicide bombing in defense of Islam is justified We must not forget that innocent Muslims,
this past November after engaging in suspicious majority of these attacks were not committed the Bamha incident, Egypt became a mem-
in at least some circumstances. Twenty-eight too, are suffering. Indeed, the most common
behavior before takeoff. Not long ago, CAIR by organized terrorist groups, but by seeming- ber of the UNʼs Human Rights Council!!
percent believe that Muslims did not carry out murderers of Muslims are, and have always been,
filed a “John Doe” lawsuit that would have made ly ʻordinaryʼ people from the neighborhood, We ask all freedom-loving governments,
the 9/11 attacks and 32% declined to answer that other Muslims. Where is the Muslim outcry over
passengers liable for “malicious” complaints under the influence of hate propaganda emit- Human Rights organizations and individu-
question. the Sunni-Shiite violence in Iraq?
about suspicious Muslim passengers. ted through the media, the education system als of the world to intervene on behalf of
While the survey has been represented Islamophobia could end when masses of
In an interview at the time, CAIR and mosque preaching. The Egyptian justice the Coptic Christians of Egypt. The repre-
in the media as proof of moderation among Muslims demonstrate in the streets against videos
spokesman Nihad Awad accused Rep. Peter system has yet to adequately punish a single hensible failure of Egypt to guarantee reli-
American Muslims, the actual results should displaying innocent people being beheaded with
King (R., N.Y.) of being an “extremist” who Muslim perpetrator. gious freedom, justice and accountability
yield the opposite conclusion. If, as the Pew the same vigor we employ against airlines, Israel
“encourages Islamophobia” for pointing out The latest attack on Friday May 11, 2007 towards the Copts simply amounts to an
study estimates, there are 2.35 million Muslims and cartoons of Muhammad. It might cease when
what most people would think is obvious, that in Bamha, 15 miles south of Cairo, was a re- invitation to continue the same against them
in America, that means there are a substantial Muslims unambiguously and publicly insist that
such a lawsuit would have a chilling effect on sult of a rumor circulated among the Muslims in the future.
number of people in the U.S. who think suicide Shariah law should have no binding legal status
passengers who witnessed alarming activity and that the Copts of the village were planning to _________________________________
bombing is sometimes justified. Similarly, if 5% in free, democratic societies.
wished to report it. We can only assume that Mr. convert a house, which they used (with the Statement signed by 13 Coptic associations
of American Muslims support al Qaeda, thatʼs It is well past time that Muslims cease
Awad believes flyers should passively remain in authoritiesʼ knowledge) for prayers, into a from North America, Europe and Australia;
more than 100,000 people. using the charge of “Islamophobia” as a tool to
a state of fear as they travel and submissively church. The Muslim worshippers were incited and issued on May 23, 2007
To bring an end to Islamophobia, we intimidate and blackmail those who speak up
risk their lives. In this case, Congress is by the Imam of the mosque and a few other
must employ a holistic approach that treats the against suspicious passengers and against those
acting appropriately and considering passing fanatics to rise and defend Islam
core of the disease. It will not suffice to merely who rightly criticize current Islamic practices
a law sponsored by Mr. King that would grant against the ʻChristian infidels.ʼ
suppress the symptoms. It is imperative to adopt and preachings. Instead, Muslims must engage
passengers immunity from such lawsuits. A Muslim mob estimated to ex-
new Islamic teachings that do not allow killing in honest and humble introspection. Muslims
It may seem bizarre, but Islamic reformers ceed 500, went on a rampage us-
apostates (Redda Law). Islamic authorities must should--must--develop strategies to rescue our
are not immune to the charge of “Islamophobia” ing fireballs, knives and hatchets
provide mainstream Islamic books that forbid religion by combating the tyranny of Salafi Islam
either. For 20 years, I have preached a reformed that resulted in burning 27 homes
polygamy and beating women. Accepted Islamic and its dreadful consequences. Among more
interpretation of Islam that teaches peace and and shops owned by Copts. At
doctrine should take a strong stand against important outcomes, this will also put an end to
respects human rights. I have consistently spoken least 10 Copts, including several
slavery and the raping of female war prisoners, so-called Islamophobia.
out - with dozens of other Muslim and Arab women, were injured; one of the
as happens in Darfur under the explicit canons of ____________________________________
reformers - against the mistreatment of women, victims is in a serious condition.
Shariah (“Ma Malakat Aimanikum”). Muslims Dr. Hamid, a onetime member of Jemaah
gays and religious minorities in the Islamic The developments that fol-
should teach, everywhere and universally, that a Islamiya, an Islamist terrorist group, is a medical
world. We have pointed out the violent teachings lowed were even more serious.
womanʼs testimony in court counts as much as a doctor and Muslim reformer living in the West.
of Salafism and the imperative of Westerners to The frightened Copts were ex-
manʼs, that women should not be punished if they The Wall Street Journal
protect themselves against it. pecting the authorities to insure
marry whom they please or dress as they wish.
their safety, security and justice;
but what took place simply added
The Six-Day War Is Not Over
Jonathan Freedland being a Jewish, democratic state, it could not rule militias slug it out ever more lethally. Some warn Health Update
over a Palestinian Arab population that would that into this vacuum could step those angels of
I am as old as this war. Officially the war of 1967,
the year of my birth, lasted for six days. In real-
one day be its numerical equal. Yet that is the
statistical situation today, with equal numbers of
death, al-Qaida, ready to mount a third intifada Focusing on Rare Cancers:
bloodier than anything Israelis have ever wit-
ity, it’s still going on: it is the 14,600-day war.
Witness the violence in Gaza, one chunk of the
Jews and Arabs in the historic land of Palestine.
If Israel is truly democratic, and grants all those
nessed. “Youʼre too late,” says former EU media-
tor Alastair Crooke, “al-Qaidaʼs already there.”
Dr. Isis Mikhail
territory which the young state of Israel - then people the vote, it will no longer have a Jewish
just 19 years old - conquered in that extraordi- majority. If it remains Jewish, by excluding those
Until now, Hamas has held the Islamist fran- Amy Dockser Marcus of advantages in studying rare cancers. Some of
chise in Gaza, fending off al-Qaida attempts to these cancers have a simpler etiology [cause or
nary, whirlwind victory. In Gaza, there is fight- people, then it is no longer democratic. This is come on to its turf. But the latter is gradually origin] than more common cancers, and if you
the so-called demographic argument, the un- Although rare cancers are often overlooked when
ing among the Palestinians - a barely repressed acquiring a toehold, with the appearance of new study them, it allows researchers to have insights
avoidable choice for Israelis left by 1967: either it comes to funding and research, they account
civil war between the old Fatah movement of groupings which give off the strong whiff of Bin into more complex tumors that are much harder
you hold on to the West Bank and Gaza or you for 27% of all new cancer diagnoses when taken
Yasser Arafat and the Islamists of Hamas - but Laden. The current violence in Lebanon, where to study. Sometimes the diseases are dispropor-
remain a democratic state with a Jewish majority: together -- and 25% of all cancer deaths. Moreo-
also between them and the Israelis. Hamas has a Palestinian group linked to al-Qaida is waging tionate in different ethnic groups, so by study-
you canʼt do both. ver, the number of deaths caused by rare cancers
resumed firing Qassam rockets from Gaza into war from the refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared, is a ing these groups, it helps us find associations and
The moral threat is rising every year.
Israel, a break in their ceasefire. Last week, one causes that might be overlooked if you looked in
was doubtless furthest According to the American Cancer Society,
rocket succeeded in killing a civilian, a woman larger cohorts. And in some of these rare cancers,
from the minds of a rare cancer is one with less
in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. And Israel the incidence rates are rising
those celebrating the than 40,000 new cases per
has resumed its targeted assassinations, including very dramatically. Cancer of
reunification of Jeru- year in the U.S., and includes
one attack on the home of a Hamas member of the esophagus is a rare cancer,
salem, and the return kidney, stomach, pancreatic,
parliament, killing eight people. The war which but now it is rising rapidly and
of Judaismʼs holiest thyroid and other cancers.
marks its 40th anniversary in a fortnight may we are trying to figure out why.
sites, 40 years ago Isis Mikhail is paying atten-
have brought Israel a breathtaking victory - but it I also think that ethically you
next month. But oc- tion. Dr. Mikhail is the acting
has brought no peace. need to think of individuals as
cupation corrodes the branch chief for the Clinical
Ever since I first travelled properly in Israel, individuals. If they have a rare
occupier, slowly but and Translational Epidemiol-
as a young student, I came to believe that what cancer, they also need to feel
unmistakably. Every ogy Branch at the National
had been won in 1967 was as much curse as hope that someone is studying
time an 18-year-old Cancer Institute and the co-or-
blessing. Yes, Israel had done something remark- their disease and that there is a
Israeli conscript stops ganizer of a recent conference
able, defeating the armies of three nations that potential future treatment that
a man or woman at a on rare cancers sponsored by
had vowed its destruction. And yes, it salved the is being researched.
checkpoint or presses NCI and the Office of Rare
wounded psyche of Jews all over the world to see WSJ: At the conference,
the button for a “tar- Diseases at the National Insti-
that, just two decades after Auschwitz, the Jews you had many presentations by
geted assassination”, tutes of Health.
were not fated to be historyʼs permanent victims, representatives of consortiums
the moral core of a Dr. Mikhail spoke with The
but could defend themselves and win. I under- that focus on rare cancers, such
country becomes a Wall Street Journalʼs Amy
stood the pride of 1967, the sense of recovered as ovarian cancer and brain
little bit smaller. Hard to believe that when Is- Dockser Marcus about the
dignity that it brought; subliminally, as a child warning of Gazaʼs future. cancer. Why is this model so
rael went to war in 1967, it enjoyed the sympa- growing efforts to find better
raised in the glow it brought, I even shared in it. Even if al-Qaida does not supplant Hamas, important in terms of advancing the study of rare
thy of world opinion, who saw it as the plucky ways to study rare cancers and the search for new
But I could see 20 years ago what Israelʼs first by gaining momentum it could oblige Hamas cancers?
David against the Arab Goliath. In the 40 years models aimed at generating funding, research,
prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, had seen 20 to move in its direction. What is currently a Dr. Mikhail: We also have consortia for com-
that have passed, Israelʼs standing has plunged attention and, ultimately, clinical trials and new
years earlier. Even before the war was over, he grievance-based, nationalist movement with an mon cancers such as breast cancer and prostate
and the admiration of those days has turned into therapies, for these often overlooked diseases.
was advocating a conditional withdrawal from Islamist hue - its main cause shaking off occu- cancer. But this model can be particularly criti-
suspicion and worse. The Wall Street Journal: One of the key is-
the territories just won. He understood what pation - could become more rigid, more ideologi- cal in trying to make advances in studying a rare
For Israelʼs enemies, these changes are all sues addressed by the conference was how to co-
holding on to those lands, and the Palestinian cal, beyond the reach of reason and negotiation. cancer. Rare cancers pose a real challenge for the
causes for celebration. But not me. As someone ordinate epidemiologic research on rare cancers,
people who lived in them, would mean: a mortal, This is a lesson Israel has failed to learn these scientists, who are working with a much smaller
whose family history is bound up with Israel, and yet many patient advocacy organizations
political and moral disaster for the state he had last 40 years. If you refuse to deal with a group sample size. There are fewer patients, and often
who wants to see that country survive and thrive, also participated. What role do patient advocates
founded and loved. because itʼs too extreme, you donʼt get to deal the diseases are lethal, and many patients die
I lament what the “prize” of the West Bank and play in such research?
The mortal threat is clear to this very day. The with a more pliant, moderate alternative. On the before we can even reach them. In rare cancers,
Gaza has brought. My great fear is that Israel is Isis Mikhail: For rare cancers, advocacy
victory of 1967 turned Israel into a military occu- contrary, you eventually confront a force that is without having multiple scientists working to-
like a homeowner who has built two extra rooms groups are really important. As researchers, we
pier, and occupied people will always fight back even more extreme. It happened when Fatah was gether, the number of patients in a study is going
on shaky ground: in wanting to keep hold of the see our work as being geared towards the com-
eventually, as the Palestinians did in earnest with eclipsed by Hamas - and it could happen again. to be so small that the results might not be statis-
extension, he risks losing the whole house. munity. It is the patient advocates who educate
the first intifada that erupted in 1987, through the What should Israel do? Right now, its leadersʼ tically significant. It is necessary to have enough
The events of the last few days only lend that patients, write newsletters, meet experts and run
suicide bombings of the 1990s and the second in- sole objective is protecting civilians from rocket data to come up with a result that is reliable.
argument more force. The Palestinian Authority Web sites. They help us with the dissemination
tifada that began in 2000. Of course, the 40 years attacks: when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visit- It is also especially important in rare cancers
is in a desperate state, fighters nominally allied of knowledge about rare cancers, aiding with re-
since 1967 have been most painful for those who ed Sderot on Monday he was booed. So his min- for researchers to speak with one another. We
with the two main wings of its supposed “unity” search by helping us find patients, and funding
have lived under occupation, the Palestinians of isters speak of escalation, more targeted killings, want to decrease the redundancy of the studies
government slaying each other on the streets of small projects that we want to do. Some of the
the West Bank and Gaza. But the inevitable con- perhaps even hitting the Hamas premier, Ismail and use our samples and resources efficiently. In
Gaza. The presidentʼs writ does not run; starved advocacy groups run their own patient registries,
sequence of that pain has been danger and per- Haniyeh. Itʼs the same old mistake. Surely Isra- a consortium, all the scientists can use the data
by an international embargo - maintained not just and these are very valuable for researchers and
petual conflict for the people of Israel. elʼs friends can begin to point in another direc- even if it is not published.They donʼt have to re-
by Israel, but by the US and European Union - scientists. We have noticed the increasing impor-
The political threat is less visible, but just as tion: to seize on the hints from Hamas of possible invent the wheel, and they can work more in a
the society is grappling with deprivation. Those tance of advocacy groups and tried to make them
obvious. Ben-Gurion understood what even Ariel compromise, to capitalise on the fact that Hamas collaboration. In rare cancers, a collaboration is
close to it warn that the PA is on the verge of more visible at this meeting.
Sharon would see three and a half decades later: too has an interest in defeating al-Qaida - and to very important. The number of patients and sam-
collapse. WSJ: The conference focused on many of the
that if Israel was to live up to its own ambition of begin a dialogue with the enemy. The aim would ples is so small, that working by themselves, the
That could see Gaza fully transform into what challenges of studying rare cancers. Why focus
be to end the war that never ended - because the on rare cancers? scientists cannot do it. They have to work in a
it already resembles: a lawless, failed state, a So- alternative is always so much worse. group.
malia on Israelʼs southern border. The kidnap of Dr. Mikhail: When you put them all together,
_____________ the number of people with rare cancers is not such ____________________
Alan Johnston and the Fatah-Hamas feud could The Guardian The Wall Street Journal
be a harbinger of things to come, as warlords and a small number anymore. But there are also a lot
Nuggets Laila Farid es areas of the brain to malfunction, making ings has announced that smoking will now be
people blunder. considered alongside sex, violence and bad lan-
§ Churches Incensed by ‘Stop American researchers, using brain scans guage. Smoking will come under the auspices
Smoking’ Signs of volunteers playing a computer card game, of the 12-parent classification board.
Senior clerics were fuming over UK Govern- have discovered that the sleep-deprived show
ment regulations giving churches and cathe- increased signs of rash risk-taking. § Six Months Paternity Leave for
drals until July 1 to post “no smoking” signs at People should have between seven and Fathers
their entrances. eight hours sleep a night to maintain good Under a new British Government plan, a wom-
Bishops and cathedral deans warned that health. an entitled to 12 months off work after having
the “nanny state” rules were unnecessary and a baby will be able to go back to work after six
would deface their buildings when it was al- § Smoking to Be Rated in US Films months, leaving her husband at home with the
most unheard of for someone to light up in the That old cinema moment when, at a point of child for six months.
pews. heightened tension and to the sound of rousing The aim of the proposals was to give par-
orchestral music, the star reaches for a packet ents greater flexibility and allow men to play a
§ Lack of a Good Night’s Sleep Leads of cigarettes, lights up, then exhales with an bigger part in the upbringing of their children.
to Mistakes expression of deep satisfaction may be heading ____________________________________
Those who work long hours and scrape by on for the cutting room floor. Sources: The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian
scant slumber, beware: Sleep deprivation caus- The American board in charge of film rat- and The Independent
23.
$
4 Watani International 3 June 2007
Pope Shenouda III
The Holy Spirit works in everybody; He
Communion
with the
Holy Spirit
Translated by: Dr Wedad Abbas
Spirit, we ought to get prepared for that.
S
Ishaq Ibrahim
triking rights
Since last December there has been a wave of industrial
strikes in textile, cement, oil and soap factories and in rail
works within us and through us. We have We ought to walk the spiritual steps re- workshop services—all of which belong to the public sector.
then to work with Him. In the Sacrament of quired to make us worth of such a gift, and to Reasons for the strikes differed, ranging from outstanding
Baptism He gave us many gifts, such as re- have our hearts always ready for the Spirit to financial claims, low wages, administrative injustice, privat-
newal, justification, and regeneration, i.e. a work in them. This will begin with walking isation and forced retirement, through to an early pension sys-
new birth. the Spirit, as the apostle says, "Walk in the tem and lack of vocational health and safety. The strikes were
However, these gifts of the Holy Spirit Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the the labourers’ last resort after the failure of negotiations with
have not taken away from us the gift of flesh," and not be like the Galations rebuked the factory or public sector administrations.
freedom. by him who had begun in the Spirit and were
We are free to receive the Holy Spirit or re- being made perfect by the flesh (Gal5: 16; 3:
ject Him, to accept communion with Him or 3) Then we shall grow in the spiritual life. Negative light
refuse it. In this the difference between saints We should keep away from whatever Some of the strikes, notably those of the textile workers in
and the sinners is apparent. The Holy Spirit may grieve the Holy Spirit, quench Him, Mahalla al-Kubra and Kafr al-Dawwar, were successful in at-
works in both, but only the righteous accept or resist Him (Eph4: 30; 1Thess5: 19; taining some of the rights the factory workers were seeking.
to have communion with Him for their own Acts7: 51). However some economists have warned that the increasing
and the others’ salvation. The Holy Spirit is ready to work in us, but number of strikes constitutes a threat to the Egyptian econ-
The righteous refuse completely what- we grieve Him when we refuse His work and omy. Financial analyst Adel Fathi says the strikes usually re-
ever work the Holy Spirit does not take sult in lower production and higher costs. Moreover, he says,
part in with them. His communion and fall in sin. Our in-
They never do any work on their own, but difference and neglect quench the zeal of the they reflect a bad light on the management of companies, lead-
in communion with the Spirit of God, as we Spirit within us. He continually calls us to ing to spiralling prices of their stocks and shares.
pray in the church: "Take part with your ser- holiness, but we resist His work in us, and Hatem Abdel-Gawwad, an economist, agrees that investors
vants in every good work." In s way they perhaps in the others as well. will take a negative view of these companies, which will in
will lead a spiritual life, their prayers and If we have communion with the Holy turn have a negative effect on their selling prices. He em-
their ministry will be spiritual, their problem Spirit, the impact will be clear in our lives. phasises that the strikes are no more than the natural result of
will be solved in a spiritual way, their actions The Lord says in the Book of Ezekiel, "I ignoring the public sector for so many years. Successive gov-
and aims will be spiritual, and their love to will give you a new heart and put a new spir- ernments since the beginning of the privatisation programme
the others will be spiritual love. The Holy it within you; I will take the heart of stone in the 1980s and 1990s have done nothing to restructure the 38
Spirit working in them will give their works out of your flesh and give you a heart of factories in the textile industry or modernise their equipment
a spiritual characteristic. flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and and technology. Their boards failed to improve productivity,
Check then and examine your works, cause you to walk in My statutes, and you increase capacity or raise the quality of their output. This has
whether the Holy Spirit has taken part in will keep My judgments and do them." led to increased losses and, as a result, labour incentives were
them with you. (Ezek36: 26, 27). Do you feel such a change discontinued in 1995.
Say to the Holy Spirit in your prayers: O within you? Do you feel that the Spirit of
Lord, I want to work with You and You with God has done so to you and has made it easy Committee of the Shura Council warned about the renewal of
me. I do not want to leave You, nor You to for you to walk in His statutes and keep His Short-sighted strikes and demonstrations and the spread of discontent to The picture
leave me. Give me the power to reject and judgments? A report by Sayed Khamis, president of the Beheira Labour other sectors. They rejected what they called the "short- shows the
keep away from the works which You do not • To be fervent in the Spirit (Rom12: Unions and a member of the Shura (Consultative) Council, sighted, tranquilliser policy" adopted by the government to- demonstrating
agree to. There is no use of my being a tem- 11) is a sign of the work of the Holy cited the main causes of strikes in the textile sector. These, he wards public-sector workers, and called for the avoidance of labourers of
ple of the Holy Spirit while I do not take part Spirit in us. said, included the passive attitude of management towards oppressive and forced retirement policies and the adoption of
with Him in work. When the Holy Spirit dwells in a person, financial, administrative and commercial corruption, especially reward and punishment policies, in addition to modern train- the textile
Even in case of sinning we should ask He enflames that person as He did to the by key persons in the administration, as well as oppressive ing programmes and better health and housing services. sector in the
the Holy Spirit to help us to repent. apostles on the Day of Pentecost (Acts2). He policies adopted by some local administrations, particularly Mohamed Farid Khamis, head of the committee, said that Delta town of
When a sinful person decide to repent, turned the whole world into a flame of fire in regarding wages, incentives, and services for workers. In addi- privatisation should be accompanied by restructuring and Mehalla
promises God and practices some spiritual ministry, preaching, zeal, enthusiasm, and tion, Khamis said, there were the problems of favouritism and modernisation, on the technical and management levels. New
exercises, it will be a good step. But such a al-Kubra
love; for love is like a fire which many wa- the delays in promotion to those entitled to it. and clearer policies should be established to accommodate pri-
good intention and good actions a re not ters cannot quench (Song8: 7).
enough, for repentance needs the work of the Members of Industrial Production, Power and Transport vatisation policies, he said.
If the Spirit of God enters your heart, zeal
Holy Spirit within the person, as the Scrip- will extend to all your spiritual life, as the
ture says, "Restore me, and I will return." Psalmist says, "Zeal for your house has eaten
Death on the road
(Jer31: 18).
me up." (Ps69: 9) Unless you take part with
Let us put before us, as an example, the
prayers of David the prophet for re- the work of the Spirit in you, you will slack-
pentance. en. Therefore the apostle warns us not to
He did not say: ‘O Lord, I will repent’, but quench the Spirit (1Thess5: 19). Keep then
he rather said, "Wash me thoroughly from the fervence of the Spirit within you, and be
my iniquity, and cleanse me from y sin…I as the burnt offering on which the fire of the
acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is altar kept burning and never went out (Lev6:
always before me…Purge me with hyssop, 12, 13).
and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be Have you received from the Spirit this
whiter than snow." (Ps51) By my weakness I holy fire and you are keeping it kindled all
cannot get cleansed, but it is You who the time in your heart?
cleanses and washes me. If You ask me, O The priest had to burn wood on the burnt
Lord, if I want to get cleansed, I will say: offering every morning (Lev6: 12), and
Yes, but: you have to kindle God's love in your heart
"to will is present with me, but how to by psalms, praises, and spiritual songs, and
perform what is good I do not find." by spiritual readings that may enflame
(Rom7: 18). your feelings.
I see another law in my members, warring You are the temple of God, therefore
against the law of my mind, and bringing me the holy fire should always be in the tem-
into captivity to the law of sin; "For the good ple.
that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I The holy virgin was described as the gold-
will not to do, that I practice…O wretched en censer and Aaron's censer, because the
man that I am!" (Rom7: 19-24) My will Holy Spirit descended on her like live coal.
alone is not sufficient, for without You, O Did then the Holy Spirit kindle your black
Lord, I can do nothing (Jn15: 5). coal and it is inflamed and cries joyfully, "I
Unless Your Holy Spirit saves me, I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Je-
shall not be able to repent. rusalem." (Song1: 5) The fire turned the coal
I am like that sick man who waited for into live coal, which forgot its black nature,
38 years, but found no man to put him into and gave heat and light. So, if you receive
the pool to get healed (Jn5: 7); or like Pe- the fervence of the Holy Spirit, it will con-
ter who could not walk on the water with- sume every wrong worldly desire in you, and
out the Lord’s hand catching him (Mt14: you will have spiritual fervence.
30). The purpose of my repentance is You, • Since the Spirit of God is the Spirit of
and You are also the means. Your Holy
Spirit convicts me of sin (Jn16: 8), because Holiness, if He dwells in you and you take
my own reproach is too weak to lead me to part with Him in work, He will give you
repentance, whereas the Holy Spirit has holiness.
the power and influence. So long as you are led by the Spirit of God
Your Spirit is my guide on the spir- and do not quench Him by straying from His
itual way. guidance (Rom8: 14; Eph4: 30), you have
He enlightens my conscience and strength- this life of holiness without which no one
ens my steps. will the Lord. Or I fear that you reject the
Unless He guides me, I will be lost. Our work of the Spirit in you and resist Him!
fault is that we depend on ourselves rather on What is the end of this resistance?
God, whereas the Scripture says, "lean not If you have become the temple of the Holy
on your own understanding." (Prov3: 5) Spirit who dwells in you, remember the
Our ministry, likewise, will not prosper un- words of the Psalm, "Holiness adorns Your
less the Spirit of God works in it; for the min- house, O Lord, forever." (Ps93: 5) Re- This exceeded allocated developmental grants to
member the words of the Scripture, "As He
A recent United Nations report cited 1.3 million Erin Moussa
istry is not mere human wisdom, but a com- these countries, insurance holding company chair-
munion with the Holy Spirit. who called you is holy, you also be holy in annual road accident deaths worldwide, making Injy Magdy
this the 10th cause of death globally. Of these man Mahmoud Abdallah said.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they all your conduct, because it is written, "Be
labor in vain who build it." (Ps127: 1). holy, for I am holy?" (1Pet1: 15, 16). deaths, 88 per cent are in developing countries.
In the apostolic era, it was a pre-condition The World Health Organisation reported some traffic law. Mr Mounir said the law was essential Safest roads
• If you have communion with the Holy
for a deacon to be full of the Holy Spirit Spirit in work, you will be powerful in 30,000 fatal road accidents in Egypt in 2006, for a robust Egyptian economy and the preserva- Mr Abdallah said road accidents in Egypt caused
(Acts6: 2), that is why their ministry pros- everything. resulting in 8,850 deaths and about 29,570 serious tion of State-owned insurance company funds on 25 deaths per 1000, whereas the international ratio
pered. The Spirit worked in it, and they were Thus the Lord promised His holy disciples, injuries. In an attempt to limit human and finan- the one hand, and to limit the ever increasing was 21 per 1000. This inflicts a considerable ec-
mere tools in His hands. We have therefore saying, "You shall receive power when the cial loss on such a scale, experts in insurance, haem-orrhage in human lives on the other. onomic burden on the State, apart from the huge
to accept the work of the Spirit, take part Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you transport, interior affairs and justice recently met human loss. Worth noting, he said, was that a
with Him, and grow in this communion to shall be witness to Me." (Acts1: 8) A pow- at a State-organised seminar in Cairo to discuss Balanced premium large portion of traffic accident victims came from
the farthest extent, for the Scripture says: erful person overcomes every sinful thought the issue of mandatory car insurance. Mr Mounir called for the establishment of a the poorer classes who used mass transportation
"Be filled with the Spirit." (Eph5: 18) and every desire that is not holy, is powerful computerised system that would supply public in- means. Mr Abdallah called for the development of
The Scripture gives us many examples of surance companies with the required information traffic awareness among younger generations in an
this, the most famous are: the house of Zach-
in the ministry and in the influence on the Low premium, high pay
others. Power will be a characteristic of such A press release by the Egyptian Insurance Su- to link the traffic violations committed by a driver attempt to control the nation’s road habits—both
arias; Elizabeth was filled with the Holy a person in every good work. Do you feel to his or her annual insurance premium. This, he for pedestrians and drivers.
Spirit, also Zacharias, and even their son pervisory Authority explained that State-owned
such power? If not, know that you do not insurance companies faced a severe predicament said would "insure the safety of the drivers and General Sherif Gomaa, deputy to the minister of
John was filled with the Holy Spirit from his have communion with the Spirit of God.
mother’s womb (Lk1: 41, 17, 15). On the regarding mandatory car insurance. The law regu- the roads". The system is already applied in many interior affairs, claimed that road accidents in Egypt
• If you have this communion with the lating this form of insurance and stipulating it as a countries to reward drivers with lower accident had not yet reached a critical ratio in spite of the
Day of Pentecost all were filled with the
Holy Spirit (Acts2: 4). Those who assembled Spirit, He will give you he true love. pre-condition for a car licence was issued in 1955. rates and penalise higher accident rate drivers by huge increase in the number of cars—vehicles trav-
for prayer, when the place was shaken; they It is the love of God that has been poured reflecting traffic violations on the insurance pre- elling Egypt’s roads doubled 22 times over the past
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom5:
The premiums since then has increased very
were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts4: slightly, rendering the insurance load unbearable mium. The computerised system would also link three decades, he said. He added that road accidents
31). Peter, when standing before the chief 5). Then we will love God with all our the engine capacity of the vehicle to the premium. had significantly dropped as a result of increased
heart, soul and mind, and will love our for insurers and resulting in huge losses. It came
priests, Stephen the deacon, and Saul of Tar- as no surprise therefore that non-State-owned Mr Mounir also called for specialised courts to traffic control. The year 2005 alone, General Go-
sus, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit neighbours as ourselves (Mt22: 37, 39). By deal with hit-and-run drivers through a framework maa cited, saw a 10 per cent drop in road accidents,
this divine love you will surpass fear, and companies refused to shoulder this burden. Which
(Acts4: 8; 7: 55; 9: 17; 13: 9). John the Be- made it all the more urgent for the State-owned that would force insurers to pay victim compensa- 11 per cent drop in road accident deaths, and one
loved says in the Revelation, "I was in the will abide in God and God in you, because
God is love (1Jn4: 16, 18). By this love companies to find a way out of this predicament. tion regardless of court rulings. per cent drop in injuries.
Spirit on the Lord’s Day (Rev1: 10), and im- A recent study conducted by the World Bank If the figures cited by General Gomaa are indeed
mediately before seeing the throne of the poured in your heart, you can win many to The issue of mandatory car insurance, chairman
the Lord, and whoever comes in touch with of the Egyptian Insurance Supervisory Authority indicated that the economic cost of road accidents true, then Egyptian roads must be among the safest
Lord, he said, "Immediately I was in the worldwide in 2006 amounted to US$518 billion, in the world. The only trouble is that no one in
Spirit" (Rev4: 2). you, will say: Truly, this person has the Adel Mounir said, was currently under discussion
If we are required to be filled with the Spirit of God within him. in Parliament within the wider context of a new $65 billion of which was in developing countries. Egypt appears to realise it.
3 June 2007
Watani International 3
$
24.
"
Watani Francophone 3 Juin 2007
6
D'Egypte
Planche
Planche
Xll - L'entrée
Xll - L'entrée
j'ai appelé En Egypte
En Egypte
Église Saint-Pierre
Église Saint-Pierre
et Saint-Paul
et Saint-Paul
à Santa Monica,
à Santa Monica,
Los Angeles,
Los Angeles,
1997 ;; 1,20 m/0,80 m
1997 1,20 m/0,80 m
mon fils Fête :: 24 bachans
Fête 24 bachans
(19 mai julien,
(19 mai julien,
1er juin grégorien)
1er juin grégorien)
Stéphane René Le personnage de la vierge Marie, est, lui, aussi hautement
symbolique. D'abord, elle personnifie l'Egypte et tous les aspects
féminins de "notre mère à tous" qui nous protège et nous nourrit. Dans
S téphane René est né en France à Versailles. Actuellement, il vit en Grande
ce cas précis, elle nourrit et protège le Christ enfant, tout comme
l'Egypte les protège et les nourrit alors qu'ils fuient Hérode et son désir
Bretagne. En mai 1990, il a soutenu au Royal College of Art de Londres une thèse sur de tuer l'enfant. Dans son manteau bleu ciel parsemé d'étoiles,
l'iconographie copte. L'article ci- dessous est un extrait de cette œuvre. elle personnifie NOUT, l'antique divinité égyptienne de la voûte cé-
leste, les Anciens Egyptiens la surnommèrent " Reine des cieux "
" Reine du ciel ", c'est ainsi que les coptes aiment appeler Sainte Ma-
La Fuite en Egypte: rie, car elle a donné naissance au Christ 'le soleil de vertu se levant à
La Fuite en Egypte est le sujet par excellence de l'icône copte. Elle célèbre la venue l'Est", la "lumière du monde". Dans cette icône, elle le serre tendre-
du Sauveur sur la terre d'Egypte. C'était une tradition très répandue chez les chrétiens ment sous son manteau céleste, n'est pas là la meilleure place pour
de la vallée du Nil de célébrer cet événement biblique. Cette icône rappelle la prophétie Dieu fait homme?
biblique que les coptes citent souvent: "D'Egypte j'ai appelé mon fils" (Matt 2,15). L'âne était la monture traditionnelle des rois et des prophètes en
En astrologie, cette icône célèbre l'entrée dans un âge nouveau, celui des poissons. Israël antique, mais la raison de cette coutume est assez obscure et
En Egypte à cette époque-là, et ceci depuis des temps immémoriaux, on décrivait une fois de plus, nous devons nous tourner vers l'Egypte antique pour
minutieusement le passage du temps. Les prêtres astrologues consacraient le plus clair l'expliciter.
de leur temps à cette science qu'ils tenaient en grande estime. Que les mages soient Le dieu égyptien à tête d' âne s'appelait lai, le grand âne.Il res-
venus sur les lieux de la nativité montre bien que nos ancêtres, y compris le chef des semblait au dieu soleil avec des oreilles d'âne. Bika Reed nous dit
Egyptiens, étaient de grands adeptes d'astronomie et d'astrologie. Toute la symbolique qu'on le trouve représenté dans le "Livre des Portes" qui décrit
le démontre clairement. le cheminement du soleil pendant la nuit. Les douze heures de la nuit
ce sont les enfers, chaque enfer représente alors une heure de la nuit
Partie supérieure et est barré d' une porte. Le processus que le Livre des Portes décrit
Les palmiers qui occupent la partie supérieure de l'icône ont une signification pha- ment du poisson pendant le Sabbat, ce qui préfigure l'Eucharistie. C'est aussi le sym- s' appelait "la sortie au jour" connu sous le nom de (Livre des morts). On trouve lai dans
raonique aussi bien que chrétienne. Dans l'Egypte antique le palmier était l'arbre du ca- bole de la résurrection comme dans le signe du prophète Jonas que Jésus a donné aux la description de la neuvième heure, l' heure où l' âme s' èveille grâce à l'activité in-
lendrier, chacune de ces palmes représentant un mois, et elle était par conséquent pharisiens. Dans l'Egypte antique le blé, le froment ou l'orge étaient tous trois le sym- tellectuelle car on dit que les deux sont indissociables. Lai, c' est l'appât qu' on tend
le symbole de Thot le comptable du temps. Les chrétiens comme les juifs ont vu dans bole de la résurrection des mort et du retour à la vie. Sous sa forme végétale, Osiris au monstre "Shes-Shes", l' abîme, qui empêche la progression de la barque de Râ
ce palmier l'arbre de la vie et de l'immortalité: " le juste poussera comme un palmier" était symbolisé par ces céréales: on les foulait aux pieds et on les enfouissait (la mort), dans l'enfer, c'est l'hameçon qui attrape le monstre. Sans l'auto-sacrifice de lai,
(Ps 92, 12). C'est l'arbre de l'entrée triomphale dans Jérusalem. puis elles reposaient dans l'obscurité (les enfers), et alors de nouvelles graines germai- la barque du soleil ne traverserait jamais la nuit pour atteindre l' aube.L' âne, cet animal
ent et poussaient (la résurrection). Quand les Egyptiens de l'antiquité avaient fini de la- têtu, vif et d'une patience à toute épreuve, symbolise parfaitement le côté raisonnable
Partie inférieure bourer leurs champs, ils faisaient une grande fête et invoquaient la lune comme prin- de notre caractère, qui, comme l'âne, supporte tout le poids de nos souffrances et
Le symbolisme égyptien est encore renforcé par la présence de l'Ibis Nil, l'oiseau sa- cipe de régénération. Ensuite, ils ensemençaient leurs champs en se lamentant et en nous soutient jusqu'au terme de notre vie. Il est têtu et égoïste, il refuse d'emprunter
cré de Thot, le principe de la raison, l'équivalent égyptien de notre concept du Logos. pleurant Osiris qu'ils venaient de mettre en terre puisque les graines étaient des par- le chemin qu' on juge le meilleur et pourtant , paradoxalement, c'est ce même âne
Dans cette scène Thot l'ibis symbolise tous les dieux égyptiens. La manière de le re- celles de son corps. tête,et lui seul, qui peut conduire le révolté au salut. L' âne est le premier de tous les ré-
présenter dans cette icône illustre bien l'attitude du christianisme égyptien qui ne mé- Les champs de blé font aussi allusion à la terre fertile d'Egypte, fertile non seulement voltés mais aussi leur guide sur le chemin de la rédemption .Le Christ sur son âne sym-
prise pas les croyances ancestrales mais pense tout simplement qu'elles sont dé- en récoltes mais aussi en âmes et ensemencées par la parole de saint Marc: " et bolise donc la suprêmatie de l' esprit sur la chair.Le Sauveur lui-même en se faisant
passées et qu'elles appartiennent à un autre âge. C'est comme si Thot battait des ailes elles donnent du fruit". Le christianisme s'est enraciné rapidement en Egypte, la prop- homme parmi les hommes, a pu ainsi faire l'expérience véritable et intime de notre na-
de joie pour accueillir Dieu, l'Unique en Egypte. Ainsi, l'ibis dont la signification agation de la nouvelle religion ne s'est pas faite sans martyr. Les petites fleurs rouges ture, mais, ce n' est qu' en soumettant complètement sa nature, c'est à dire son corps,
symbolique est encore renforcée par la présence des palmiers, insiste sur le thème du qui parsèment les champs de blé de l'icône symbolise les milliers de martyrs qui ont of- jusque dans la mort qu'il a pu briser les portes de l'enfer et remplir son rôle de ré-
passage du temps ou plutôt sur l'entrée dans une ère nouvelle qui n'abolit pas fert leur vie pour défendre leur foi. dempteur. Dans ce sens, l'âne, autrement dit le corps, participe à la rédemption et
l'ancienne, mais l'absorbe, la nouvelle et en quelque sorte en est l'accomplissement. on peut affirmer qu'il en est le guide. comme on l'a déjà dit plus haut, c'est la neuvième
heure du livre des passages (ou livre d'heures) qui traite de la mort d' lai. Dans le livre
La partie inférieure de l'œuvre est occupée par le Nil représenté dans la tradition pha- Partie centrale d'heures copte- l'Agbea- la neuvième heure commémore "la mort de notre seigneur
raonique. Le Nil, pour les Egyptiens, est d'une importance primordiale, il est à l'origine Les trois personnages au centre constituent la triade sainte, avec Joseph, père nour-
de la vie, il est la vie même. Ici, il est à rapprocher de la Vierge Marie qui représente sous son apparence de chair" et dit " Ô toi qui à la neuvième heure a goûté la mort
ricier de Jésus protecteur désigné de l'Enfant divin qu'on aurait placé là en quelque
le sein qui a donné naissance au monde. Les quatre poissons symbolisent les quatre dans la chair, pour nous autres, pêcheurs, fais mourir nos passions charnelles, ô Christ
sorte, pour incarner l'élément masculin. Il était impensable, qu'une jeune mère voyage
évangiles ou la parole de Dieu qui éclaire l'âme des hommes. On fêtait déjà la Pâque notre Dieu, et sauve nous."
et vive seule avec son enfant nouveau-né sans l'apparente protection d'un tuteur ou
juive pendant le mois d' "ADAR", ce qui veut dire poisson, et on mangeait traditionnelle- d'un mari. Revue Le Monde Copte
Cinq pays: Egypte, France, Allemagne, Canada et Suède, participeront, cette année, à la 8e édition du "Festival international
de danse théâtre contemporaine", qui se tiendra du 5 au 22 juin, dans la grande et petite salles de l'Opéra du Caire, au
théâtre Al-Goumhouriya et au théâtre Sayed Darwich à Alexandrie.
agenda
Danse-théâtre en action
Musique
Dans la continuité des missions qu'il a ef-
fectuées en 2005 et en 2006, le chef d'orchestre
et musicologue français Alain Paris qui a dirigé
plus de cinquante orchestres dans une quinzaine
de pays différents, est à nouveau invité en
Egypte par le Centre français de Culture et de
Coopération et l'Opéra du Caire. Alain Paris qui
conduira l'orchestre symphonique de l'Opéra du
Caire, donnera des master classes de direction
d'orchestre et fera participer les élèves du Con-
servatoire de musique, du Lycée français et des
écoles bilingues égyptiennes à une répétition L'Etal, chorégraphie
d'orchestre. Au programme de la soirée, " Jeux de Pedro Pauwles
d'enfants " de Georges Bizet, concerto pour vi-
oloncelle, opus 129, de - Robert Schumann et
cussionnistes et une pièce chorégraphique sur la planche du
Gloria pour piano, soprano, choeur et orchestre,
de Francis Poulenc. Le 9 juin, à 21h, dans la
grande salle de l'Opéra
C ette année, le Festival international de danse théâtre
Névine Lameï théâtre Al Goumhouriya. Cette pièce est articulée autour de la
question de la mémoire.
contemporaine, a choisi pour son spectacle d'inauguration, fixé D'autre part, et sous la direction du chorégraphe Kader At-
du Caire. contemporaine en Egypte", et avec le soutien du Centre
pour le 5 juin, à 21h, dans la grande salle de l'Opéra du Caire, tou, ce dernier présentera avec sa compagnie Accrorap, un
français de culture et de coopération du Caire et Culture
la danse théâtre contemporaine: If Clouds could speak (Si les spectacle de danse théâtre contemporaine, sous le titre de
France, trois compagnies françaises sont invitées à prendre
Peinture nuages pourraient parler) du chorégraphe Walid Aouni, di-
part à cette manifestation, avec des créations originales. A sa- Douar. Ce spectacle "aborde la question de l'exil et de l'identité
Dans la galerie Picas- recteur artistique de la troupe de danse théâtre contemporain d'une partie de la jeunesse des deux rives de la Méditerranée",
voir la compagnie du chorégraphe français Pedro Pauwels qui
so sont exposées les de l'Opéra du Caire. Le sens de ce spectacle selon son chor- à travers "la rencontre entre des danseurs hip-hop algériens et
interprétera le spectacle de danse théâtre contemporain L'Etal
peintures d'Eliane égraphe, est centré sur le thème symbolique des "nuages", qui français à l'occasion de " L'Année de l'Algérie en France ". Ce
qui est "une pièce où le travail au sol prime, un travail d'une
Muis. Fille du peintre sont en "perpétuelles métamorphoses". "Les nuages sont clos. qui a permis de confronter les rêves, de mélanger les imag-
grande rigueur technique". Présenté avec les spectateurs dans
hollandais Albert Elles paraissent soudainement et disparaissent subitement. inaires. Au-delà de l'histoire de cette rencontre, il s'agit de la
l'espace, L'Etal semble au départ confiné à un espace scé-
MUIS, Eliane MUIS a Elles surveillent la terre. Parfois, elles sont blanches, parfois restitution vers " la terre des origines " de cet apport méd-
nique réduit. Les deux danseurs, Pauwels et Faïzl Zeghoudi
noires et furieuses. Elles se métamorphosent comme elles le iterranéen qui a rendu le hip-hop français si original. Le 14 mai,
développé une tech- sont étendus au sol, chacun de son côté dans un rectangle for-
désirent. Elles s'assemblent de tous les coins du monde, en un à 21h0, au théâtre Al Goumhouriya du Caire et le 16 juin, à
nique mixte originale mé par des lanières de pellicule de plastique sous lequel ils ont
moment. Chaque instant, elles nous imposent leurs formes 21h, au théâtre Sayyed Darwich à Alexandrie.
qui associe, sur des supports en bois ou en glissé. Rapidement le contact se fait entre les deux danseurs
variables avec leurs douces légèreté ou leurs apparences ef- Cette année, le Festival de danse théâtre contemporaine
toile, collages, peinture acrylique et peinture et depuis ce moment, le spectateur a droit à un duo physique à
frayantes. Et si nous les méditons, nous apprendrons beau- jouit dans sa 8e édition d'un intérêt particulier.
à l'huile. Ses compositions figuratives se dis- souhait ou les contacts aux sols sont particulièrement violents.
coup d'elles…". Pour mettre en relief le thème symbolique des Tout d'abord, participera, en cadre du festival, la compagnie
tinguent par leur relief et le foisonnement de Ce spectacle évoque un processus de rétrécissement de l'es-
nuages, Walid Aouni a choisi d'incruster son spectacle d'un Katja et Assem Dance, avec son spectacle "Un moment de pur
leurs couleurs. Du 3 au 20 juin. pace dans lequel le temps, le rythme et les silences jouent un
beau mélange de rythmes, variant entre la musique de Wag- silence". Ce spectacle a reçu en février dernier le Grand Prix
rôle déterminant et au cours duquel le corps devient tour à tour
ner, à la fois très dramatique et romantique et la musique du du 5ème Festival des jeunes créateurs organisé au CFCC
métronome ou sculpture vouée à l'éternité. Ce spectacle sera
Cinéma rap et du hip hop, une musique révoltée et téméraire qui re-
présenté le 7 juin au théâtre Goumhouriya au Caire et le 11 Mounira. Les 18 et 19 juin, à 21h, dans la petite salle de l'Opé-
Les choristes, est un film de Christophe présentante selon Aouni, la musique de la "génération ac- ra du Caire et le 22 juin, à 21h, au Théâtre Sayed Darwich à
juin, au théâtre Sayed Darwich à Alexandrie.
BARRATIER. Le film relate, en 1948, l'histoire tuelle". Ce contraste entre les deux différents genres de mu- Alexandrie. Autres représentations: Advaita et Résonances, in-
Quant au deuxième spectacle français de danse théâtre con-
de Clément Mathieu, professeur de musique siques, va de pair avec le thème symbolique des nuages. terprétation de Nans Martin et Mathilde Rondet, des diplômés
temporain qui prendra part au festival les 10 et 11 juin au
qui, étant sans emploi, accepte un poste de "Histoire, musiques, sens, énigme dialoguent ensemble, seuls, de danse contemporaine du Conservatoire national supérieur
théâtre Al Goumhouriya, c'est Les maux de Soqoot El Zakera,
surveillant dans un internat de rééducation sous le couvert des nuages. Selon Walid Aouni, "l'art dans de musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP). Dans le premier
direction et chorégraphie de Laurence Rondoni et Mohamad
pour mineurs. Le système répressif appliqué toutes ses formes est un mouvement". C'est ce qui sera inter- spectacle, le yoga sur lequel se base la création de danse con-
Chafik. Ce spectacle créé à Alexandrie en janvier dernier, pré-
prété par les gestes, le mouvement et l'expression du corps, temporaine, met en relief, l'idée de la recherche d'un équilibre
par le directeur le scandalise. En initiant ces sentera des personnages étranges, surréalistes, à mi chemin
par la troupe de danse théâtre contemporain de Walid Aouni, entre la liberté d'expression propre à la danse contemporaine
enfants difficiles à la musique et au chant du rêve et de la réalité, entraînés par les rythmes de batteries
le jour de l'inauguration du festival. Ce spectacle sera reproduit et la pratique ancestrale et écrite du yoga. Alors que Rés-
choral, Clément Mathieu parviendra à trans- (percussions), subissent les jeux cruels et absurdes de la Mé-
au lendemain de l'inauguration. moire et de la Mort. Venus de nos rêves et de nos fantasmes, onances se base sur "l'exploration des interférences qui se
former leur quotidien. Le 7 juin, à 20h30, à
ces personnages sont-ils le reflet d'un univers qui est réel ou produisent entre deux personnes à travers l'espace, comme
l'auditorium du CFCC
Représentation française. bien les avons-nous créés pour mentir à nous-mêmes ?. Ce élément extérieur à soi et comme lieu intérieur de la per-
Dans le but de mettre en lumière "la vitalité de la danse spectacle sera interprété pat 7 danseurs-acteurs, 2 per- ception".
"