Copts and Poliltical Islam
Islamic forces vow to stand against Omar Suleiman
Others | 12 April 2012
Islamic movements in Egypt slammed the presidential candidacy of ex-intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and threatened to sue him and organize protests until he is barred from the poll.
The Salafi Front called Tuesday for all political parties take to the streets in a mass demonstration against Suleiman and other figures of Hosni Mubarak’s regime...
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Brotherhood says elections commission official is Amr Moussa's relative
Others | 12 April 2012
The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party posted on its Facebook page that secretary general of the Presidential Elections Commission Hatem Bagato is a relative of presidential candidate Amr Moussa, which Bagato has confirmed...
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Abu-Ismail, El-Shater supporters stress unity, downplay differences
Others | 12 April 2012
In an effort to downplay any friction between Islamist presidential frontrunners Hazem Abu-Ismail and Khairat El-Shater, supporters of the two men on Wednesday repeated the chant "Hazem and Khairat are one hand" at a rally in front of Egypt's State Council...
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Egypt court adjourns Abu-Ismail case
Others | 11 April 2012
Egypt's State Council has adjourned until Wednesday the case filed by Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail, wherein the presidential hopeful is demanding that the Ministry of Interior turnover official proof that his mother is a dual national...
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Coptic Church criticises make-up of Egypt's constituent assembly
Others | 11 April 2012
Egypt's Coptic Church on Thursday issued a statement criticising the system used to form Egypt's recently-established constituent assembly, tasked with drafting a new national constitution.
Half the members of the 100-seat assembly were drawn from Egypt's first post-Mubarak parliament – roughly three quarters of which is controlled by Islamist parties – and half from among non-parliamentarians...
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FJP, Nour Party slam court ruling against Constituent Assembly
Others | 11 April 2012
Members from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafi-oriented Nour Party have slammed a ruling by the State Council's Administrative Court on Tuesday, which reversed an earlier Parliament decision to form the panel tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution...
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Abu-Ismail: The battle continues
Others | 10 April 2012
A greatly-respected Islamist figure, who is seen by many as a true fearless revolutionary voice and a tremendously knowledgeable yet jovial and modest man, Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail gained in popularity and appeared to stand a strong chance of assuming power in post-Mubarak Egypt...
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Shater's supporters, opponents battle on social media
Others | 10 April 2012
Electronic warfare between Khairat al-Shater's supporters and opponents has escalated on social networking websites since the Brotherhood leader was nominated to run last week. On Facebook, the number of fans of the "I will not elect Khairat al-Shater" page reached 141000, compared to the 90000 fans of Shater's official campaign page...
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More Egyptian Christians defy late pope's Holy Land travel ban
Others | 10 April 2012
Around 100 Coptic Christians flew from Cairo to Tel Aviv Monday in contravention of a ban placed on travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories by the Church's late patriarch Pope Shenouda III.
"I am travelling to witness the divine light of Christ that glows in Jerusalem," one of the pilgrims said...
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Khairat al-Shater says Omar Suleiman presidency bid is an "insult"
Others | 9 April 2012
A bid for power by Hosni Mubarak's former intelligence chief is an insult to Egypt's revolution that, if successful, would trigger a second nationwide revolt, the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for Egypt's presidency said...
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Will El-Shater nomination split Egypt's Brotherhood?
Others | 9 April 2012
After the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, Kamal El-Helbawy returned to Egypt after spending 23 years as the Muslim Brotherhood's spokesperson in Europe. The 73-year-old arrived with high expectations but became increasingly critical of the group he had defended for years. He resigned from the group during a live TV broadcast on Saturday after the Brotherhood's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie announced that the group would nominate his deputy, Khairat El-Shater, for president...
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Christians celebrate Easter in Jerusalem
Others | 9 April 2012
JERUSALEM — Thousands of Christians gathered in Jerusalem for Easter Sunday to commemorate Jesus Christ's resurrection, crowding into one of Christianity's holiest churches, worshipping, singing and praying.
Catholics and Protestants took in turns to hold ceremonies within the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried...
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Pope marks Easter with call for Syria violence end
Others | 9 April 2012
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI implored the Syrian regime Sunday to heed international demands to end the bloodshed and voiced hope that the joy of Easter would comfort Christians suffering because of their faith...
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Supporters of Salafist presidential candidate threaten to escalate protests
Others | 7 April 2012
After leaving Tahrir Square late on Friday, supporters of presidential hopeful, Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail, threatened to escalate their protests against what they describe as a fraudulent political and media campaign against the Salafist candidate. Their demonstrations already saw some chaos and violence...
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Thousands of supporters show up to cheer El-Shater as he files his candidacy forms
Others | 6 April 2012
Presidential hopeful Khairat El-Shater has filed his recommendation forms at the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) in order to be placed on Egypt's presidential ballot as the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) candidate...
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Abu Ismail exclusion could bolster Shater, prompt Salafi rage
Others | 6 April 2012
Less than a week ago, thousands of Sheikh Hazem Salah Abu Ismail’s supporters marched to the Presidential Elections Commission to accompany the Salafi presidential hopeful as he filed his nomination papers. The celebratory march followed a blitz of poster campaigning that has made Abu Ismail’s face a ubiquitous sight on the streets of Cairo. The hype around the Salafi’s campaign was making headlines and, suddenly, raising expectations for Abu Ismail’s chances at the polls...
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Shater submits candidacy papers at elections commission
Others | 6 April 2012
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party's presidential hopeful Khairat al-Shater submitted the papers required for his candidacy to the Presidential Elections Commission in Heliopolis on Thursday. Shater headed to the commission headquarters with thousands of supporters from across Egypt...
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Withdrawn Constituent Assembly members reject Katatny deadline
Others | 6 April 2012
Former members of the Constituent Assembly on Thursday declared their refusal of the deadline announced by People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny for them to return to the assembly without conditions. Katatny gave the withdrawn members a deadline of one week before the next assembly session...
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Jama'a al-Islamiya senior member defends Shater’s nomination
Others | 6 April 2012
Aboud al-Zomor, member of the Jama’a al-Islamiya Shura Council, has said the Muslim Brotherhood has the right to go back on its decision not to field candidates in the presidential election if circumstances change...
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Is Brotherhood candidate El-Shater legally eligible to run for presidency?
Others | 5 April 2012
The Muslim Brotherhood's presidential candidate Khairat El-Shater's legal status remains questionable, following ambiguous details surrounding his most recent prison sentences.
The presidential hopeful is known to be one of the masterminds behind the Islamist organisation as well as being its main finance manager, having merged his expanding wealth with that of the group during the mid-90s. ..
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Al-Azhar, church leaders discuss constituent assembly crisis
Others | 5 April 2012
Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb is meeting on Wednesday with acting Coptic Pope Pachomius to discuss developments in the constituent assembly crisis, state-run news service MENA reported on Tuesday.
Both religious institutions had agreed to withdraw from the assembly on the grounds that they are not properly represented in it, and that it is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood...
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