Watani 27 November 2016 Chairman of the Board 18 Hatour (Hator) 1733 and 27 Safar 1438 Editor-in-chief Issue 824 Year 16 Youssef Sidhom

Editorial Problems on hold The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church wealth of knowledge that dominated the four- The Law for Building and Restoring Churches held its fourth annual seminar, focusing on Coptic day event should work as a beacon torch to be identity and heritage. The vision, spirituality and handed… Ease or complication?

Youssef Sidhom

Since the Law for Building and Restoring Churches was passed last August, it came under fire from those who saw that it failed to live up to its expectations. Many said the new law failed to achieve absolute equality among regarding their places of worship; in this they were alluding to the fact that the new law did not indiscriminately apply to all places of worship in ; it applied only to churches. Mosques remained governed by another law which the topmost Islamic authority, al-Azhar, refused to give up in favour of a unified law for places of worship. Not only that, many Copts and rights activists claimed that the new law gave legitimacy to unlawful, oppressive measures that had been commonly applied by the security or administrative apparatuses to the building and restoration of churches before the new law was issued. I repeatedly wrote advising to give the new law a chance. I said we should monitor how it would be applied in matters that concerned the building of new churches, restoration of already existing ones, or re-opening churches which had been closed by local authorities under the pretext that their opening constituted a security threat. I said we should monitor how the new law is applied on the ground. Would its application serve to ease the building and restoration of churches as was intended, or would it further complicate the process? If it succeeds in easing the matter, the law would have fulfilled the constitutional requirement it was meant to accomplish. But if it is applied so that it compromises the freedom of Christians to build, restore or re-open their churches; if it allows for the prohibitive red tape and oppressive stalling by local authorities that prevailed in the past, the law must go back to the House of Representatives for amendment. In accordance with my call for monitoring the application of the new law, I shed light on the decision issued last month by the New Urban Communities Authority, which approved the allocation of lands for building new churches in New Fayoum, New Minya and Badr City. [http://en.wataninet.com/opinion/ editorial/law-for-building-and-restoring-churches- From generation unto generation cautious-optimism/17672/]. I considered these approvals a good start, but wrote that we ought to follow up on their implementation to check the ease with which new churches would be finally built. This means we must check on the straightforwardness of The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church had been Michael Victor He talked of the role of the Coptic Church in preserving the the process of obtaining the relevant permits and used to holding two meetings a year to discuss Church policies Nevine Gadallah Coptic language and in translating the Bible into Coptic, as approvals to complete the building, as well as the and affairs and take the relevant decisions. Pope Tawadros II, well as the decline of the language throughout the centuries protection offered by the local authorities for the however, decided to maintain the annual meeting traditionally that followed the Arab conquest of Egypt in the 7th century. construction work to take place without attacks held on Pentecost day, but that the second annual meeting of the weight Copts carry on the national scene. There is an He defined Coptic literature according to its chronological and by extremists. Extremists have been notorious for would be a seminar that would focus on issues with which the increasing interest by the State in reviving the spots on the qualitative features throughout the centuries before and after impeding the construction of churches by waging Church was concerned. This seminar is held in November at the route of the Holy Family in Egypt as tourist destinations—our the Arab conquest. violent attacks against the building site and the Monastery of Anba Bishoi in Wadi al-Natroun in the Western Church celebrates the Feast of the Coming of Christ to Egypt workers; sadly, the authorities have systematically Desert, and coincides with the anniversary of the enthronement on 1 June every year.” Modern-day variables responded by succumbing to the terrorist pressure, of Pope Tawadros on 18 November 2012. Anba Bishoi’s More important, Pope Tawadros said, is the vibrant, living Dr Gamal Lamei tackled the topic of Coptic art and crafts taking the easy way out and halting or closing down houses papal headquarters as well as the well-equipped Logos faith of the Coptic people, which is an extension to that of the that cover a wide range of products including painting, glass, the [officially licensed] works or buildings. This was conference centre. martyrs and saints. “When Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal pottery, metalwork, woodwork, mosaic, textiles, and others. done under the pretext that the works or buildings From 14 to 17 November 2016, the Logos Centre at Anba Schönborn, visited Egypt last October, he said: ‘In Egypt, I He complained that modern times and mechanised industry constituted security threats. Bishoi’s hosted the fourth edition of the Holy Synod seminar, saw faith’. He visited the families of the Copts who had been have all but rendered handmade arts and crafts extinct, and In all cases, the manner of application of the law held under the title “The Coptic identity”. It focused on beheaded by Daesh in Libya in 2015; ‘I want to kiss their feet,’ envisioned the establishment of a cultural centre to revive remains to be seen. I do not expect approvals that topics of Coptic architecture, Church heritage, archaeological he said.” them. Dr Lamei said that such a centre would encourage the concern reinforcing already existing churches would awareness, Coptic literature, Coptic art, Coptic teaching, and The Church’s work is based on creating a distinguished manufacture of handmade products to serve as daily-life constitute much of a problem, since these entail the Egyptian Coptic identity. ‘Coptic’ has its origin in the Christian person. We care for education as in Sunday School commodities. He gave as an example the rugs and ceramic maintenance or restoration works for churches as Greek language and is literal for ‘Egyptian’, but has come to and visiting the needy. “Men and women are equal, ” he said, products produced by the peasants of Harraniya centre in Giza, they already stand. But I have serious worries about denote Egyptian Christians in specific since Islam became the “on our visit to foreign countries as in the case of Russia in which was established by Ramses Wissa Wassef in the 1950s; old churches that require partial or full demolition majority . Participating in the seminar were 2014 and Ethiopia in 2015, our delegation included the abbesses the tablecloths, napkins, and shawls produced in Akhmim; the and subsequent reconstruction or expansion, since 110 Coptic Orthodox metropolitans and bishops from inside of convents in Egypt. We encourage Copts to integrate well household wooden products of Hegaza; as well as others. The these may ruffle the feathers of extremists and and outside Egypt. in the community and to shoulder their social and public centre, he said, would help market such products inside and fanatics. I even worry more about closed-down responsibility. We also do that through establishing schools outside Egypt. churches that need to be re-opened. Why were Palm for every parish and hospitals.” Anba Thomas, Bishop of al-Qoussiya, talked of the Coptic they closed down in the first place? The answer: Pope Tawadros II opened the seminar with a talk on “The Egyptian identity. He said that religion, theology, rituals and “for security reasons”. This three-word phrase Coptic Church, a history of glory”. He began with the verse in Coptic heritage rites, Church tradition, spiritual heritage, literary and folk is an expression coined by the security authority Isaiah 19: 19, which says: “In that day there will be an altar to The Pope’s words ended with a call to preserve the Coptic heritage, culture and norms all contribute to define the features during the bitter times when an unwritten rule put the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at identity in its local and global dimensions, as well as in its of that identity. the construction and restoration of churches in the its border”. The Pope said that Egypt was a unique land. “As a engrained spirituality. The final lecture was given by Anba Raphail, Secretary- hands of the security apparatus. More often than homeland for its people, Egypt is indivisible; Egyptians have The days following witnessed morning and evening lectures. General of the Holy Synod, and focused on the features of not, security officials would decide to appease the the earth as a mother and the as a father. The land has Bishop of Menoufiya, Anba Benyamin, talked about Church Coptic Orthodox Church teaching. He said that traditional terrorist extremists as the quickest, surest way to embraced events that enriched world history. heritage which, he said, drew from sources of the Holy Bible teaching is now faced with the challenges of modern technology restore peace in places of unrest. In flagrant disregard “The Egyptian Church,” he said, “is one of the oldest in the and the teachings of the Apostles and Church fathers, as well as and communication, modern-day variables that have broken of the law, they would close down licensed churches world. It is built on the prophesies of Isaiah, the visit of the Holy spiritual theology, comparative creeds, and heritage. away from age-old constants such as respect for the old, and the or church-related works on account of the extremist Family, and the introduction of Christianity by St Mark in the Dr Atef Naguib gave a lecture on archaeological awareness. spread of the Church outside Egypt and consequent presence attacks and threats; never mind that these buildings first century. All this makes us very proud of our Coptic Church He explained about antiquities, and expounded on the of entire younger congregations that do not speak Arabic. “The carried valid official licences. It was sufficient that which became a staunch guardian of faith, and introduced manner in which Copts regarded and preserved the heritage challenge is to address modern-day variables and needs, and security officials decide a specific matter threatened monasticism to the world.” left them by their forefathers. He talked about the Coptic at the same time preserve our time honoured identity. It is not social peace for them to put the law aside and take The Pope stressed that the Coptic identity is part and parcel of Museum, founded in 1908 by Markus Simaika, and how it impossible,” he said, “other Churches such as the Armenian, ‘necessary’ measures ‘for security reasons’. the Egyptian identity. This brought up the issue of globalisation expressed and documented the Egyptian Christian identity Indian, and Russian Churches have done it.” So where do we stand today vis-à-vis the new and the Diaspora Copts. “Our Church has now expanded into as an indispensible component of the Egyptian character Law for Building and Restoring Churches? Official Jerusalem, Sudan, Kuwait, Canada, US, Australia, UK, and and nation. In this age of globalisation and opening to the Thanksgiving committees have been formed to look into the cases all Europe,” he said. “Migration fuses the national identity outside world, Dr Naguib said, heritage is the surest way to Anba Raphail talked of the ongoing theological dialogue and of already existing churches closed for security into that of the host nation; gradually the latter takes over the guard and retain our identity. He stressed the importance attempts at unity among the Churches in the world. He said reasons, in order to decide on legalising their status former, meaning that it is a challenge to retain national traits. of societies and associations that work to spread heritage this means we should know ourselves first. The Coptic Church, and reopening them for prayer. But is the work of We thus find ourselves attempting to maintain a difficult awareness through publishing books, holding seminars, and he said, constituted since the first AD centuries a beacon of these committees accorded sufficient transparency balance between shutting out all outside influence to retain our promoting Church teaching. wisdom that drew from the knowledge of the famous School to ensure they would strictly adhere to the rule of identity, and opening up absolutely and losing our identity in Coptic language and literature and how they pertain to the of scholars, the staunch faith of the martyrs, the law? Do their decisions enjoy immunity? Will the the process. Coptic identity constituted the topic tackled by Father Basilius glorious monastic tradition, and the spontaneous faith rooted security authority decide to play it safe and choose “For every parish outside Egypt we have planted a palm here Sobhy, deputy to the head of the Clerical College in . in the soul of the people of Egypt. Today, he said, our teaching not to engage in battle with the terrorist extremists, at the Logos centre. We also invite our is based on that accumulated wisdom and so decide to keep these churches closed for churches in the Diaspora to plant trees in and, primarily, the Bible and the person security reasons? Or will the security apparatus their name here to maintain a physical tie of Christ the Lord, Godly manifestations, recognise its constitutional responsibility in rooting with Egypt.” Liturgical teachings and the Patristics, the citizenship rights and ensuring the freedom of Creed, the Eucharist, the Cross and the Christians to practise their religious rites? This Extension to the martyrs and Resurrection. would mean that the security authorities have to take saints The final day of the seminar, the eve of bold decisions to unfetter these churches and open The Pope spoke about recent the fourth anniversary of the enthronement them, no matter what it takes to deter any threat to developments in Egypt that pertained to of Pope Tawadros, a Mass of Thanksgiving social peace by those who will definitely be unhappy Copts and their Church. “We now have was held at the Church of the Transfiguration with the reopening of the churches. a law for the building and restoration in the Logos Centre. The Pope presided and Once more I invite readers to involve Watani in of churches, the first national law in 160 delivered the sermon in which he talked of following up on the implementation of the Law for years. The Armed Forces have kept their pastoral service the two poles of which, he Building and Restoring Churches. Watani is ready promise and restored the churches which said, were the pastor and the congregation. to follow up on all the administrative and practical the Muslim Brothers ruined in August They all learn from one another, he said. The details involved, whether with the building of new 2013. Presidents Adly Mansour and Abdel- pastor should learn in a spirit of humbleness, churches, restoring already existing one, legalising Fattah al-Sisi visit us on Christmas to offer and should also teach in the same spirit, so the status of unlicensed churches, or unfettering the their good wishes to the Coptic people. there will always be a future generation ready chains of churches that remain closed for security Copts are now active participants and to take over. “We stand before the Lord and reasons. Only then will we be in a position to players in political life. Foreign presidents draw on His power at the altar as we pray in rationally decide whether the new law has made and officials who visit Egypt insist on Holy Mass and say: ‘From generation unto matters easier or more complicated. visiting us at St Mark’s, an indication generation…’.” Amen. 27 November 2016 Watani International 2 Police crime shocks, angers Egyptians

Nader Shukry Rehab Gamal

The death of 54-year-old Magdy Makeen who was tortured get justice without his intervention.” and killed in the police station in the Cairo district of al- Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar has suspended Ameeriya has sent shock and anger waves through Egypt. Captain Karim Magdy pending investigation in the case. The Makeen, a Copt, earned his living selling fish on his horse public attorney has ordered investigation of footage captured cart. His cousin, Yusri Attiya, told Watani’s Rehab Gamal by the CCTV cameras at the police station. that the family was informed of his death by Zaitoun Hospital Anba Macarius, Bishop-General of Minya, visited the on Monday 14 November at 8am. “We rushed to the hospital family to offer condolences. He comforted them, but agreed where we found his body covered with a sheet and kept under that justice should be served. strict security. They got a coffin from a nearby mosque and Until Watani went to press, the after-death report had not put the body inside and moved him to the morgue.” been issued. Mr Attiya said that once the body was uncovered at the The Coptic Orthodox Church and the Egypt Council of morgue, it was very obvious Makeen had been brutally Churches issued a statement that they would not comment on tortured before he died. His body was full of bruises. the incident. When Watani asked Mr Attiya how the family was able to photograph Makeen’s body, he replied that a large number Sectarian incident? of family members had gone together to the morgue. They Despite the fact that Makeen’s family maintained a low were too many for the officials there to be able to stop them profile in an attempt to ensure that the incident would not from photographing the body on their cell phones. The large be exploited to stoke sectarian grudges or be politically number of family members is no surprise; it is customary for manipulated, the story got into the media and was given Egyptians, especially those whose roots go back to Upper extensive coverage and analysis. Not a few media outlets Egypt or rural areas in general, to quickly gather to support did just what the family had wished to avoid; TV talk shows the extended family in cases of hardship. depicted the incident in a sectarian light, even casting doubts on the authenticity of the images posted by the family on social Family version, police version media and on the intentions of the family in doing so. TV host The family got to know the details from two men who Wael al-Ibrashi of al-Ashira Masa’an presented journalist had been with Makeen the day before. They said they were Gamal Assaad who insisted that the Church, in delegating with Makeen as he drove his horse cart. He accidentally hit Anba Macarius to visit the family, had cast the incident as a police car that was passing by. The police officer in the car, a crime committed against a Copt not merely against an Captain Karim Magdy, shouted obscenities at Makeen who his life. The police said they found 2000 tablets of narcotics him safe and sound and the cart intact.” Egyptian citizen. In vain did the other guests explain that it retaliated by shouting back insults. The verbal fight escalated, in the cart. Watani asked Mr Attiya how could he be so sure Mr Attiya insisted the family did not wish to turn the incident was a time-honoured Coptic tradition to hold prayers on the Makeen drove away to escape the police, but they caught him that this was not true? “Makeen was a very poor man,” Mr into a tool which the media would use for sensationalism or third day of a death at the home of the deceased, so it was no and took him and the two other men who were with him to the Attiya said. “Could a drug dealer be so poor? He always political manipulation, and this is why they had not been surprise that a cleric should visit the family to officiate. “Had police station of al-Ameeriya. enjoyed a good reputation among his neighbours and all who talking to the media. “But we insist that justice should be Makeen been Muslim,” Mr Assaad asked, “would the Imam “How did you know these details,” Watani asked Mr knew him. But all this is beside the point; if Makeen was a served,” he said. “The police officer involved in the crime has of al-Azhar have sent a cleric to visit the family?” to which Attiya, “if the two men are still detained by the police? Were drug dealer he should have been prosecuted according to the already been suspended, and the prosecution has demanded one of Mr Ibrashi’s guests, lawyer Amir Nassif, replied: “Do you allowed to see them?” Mr Attiya said they got their law, not tortured to death.” a speedy after-death report from the Forensic Medicine Muslims hold Third Day prayers? Anyway, al-Azhar did send information through the lawyer who also said the two men Authority. We are comfortable with that.” a representative to offer the family condolence.” He insisted had been cruelly abused by the police. Makeen died after two “Justice must be served” During the questioning by the prosecution, Makeen’s that Makeen was an Egyptian first and foremost and that hours of brutal torture, they said. Mr Attiya cast strong doubts on the police version of the nephew Mina Boulos was asked why the family members had as such, and regardless of what religion he belonged to, he The police story goes that the three men on the horse cart incident. “Had there really been a collision that killed Makeen photographed the body and posted the images online. “We should be accorded justice. were selling drugs and the police was chasing them. The as the police said, would the cart have remained intact? We hoped to capture the attention of President Abdel-Fattah al- Makeen’s widow and three children—two men and a police car hit the horse cart during the chase and Makeen lost went to feed the horse where the police kept him and found Sisi,” Boulos said. “We were afraid we would not be able to woman aged 28, 25, and 20, totally avoided the media. Islamic thinker pardoned Presidential pardon: by President Sisi Godsend to loving couple

Sanaa’ Farouq TV host Islam Behery was among 82 detainees Among the 82 prisoners granted presidential who won a recent presidential pardon. The pardon Amal Ibrahim pardon by President Sisi was Ahmed Galal was based on article 155 of the Egyptian Constitution Muhammad, 30, from the city of Sohag, some that gives the President the right to pardon prisoners who were handed final 450km south of Cairo. sentences. Muhammad’s pardon comes to him and his young wife Amna Abdullah National Council for Human Rights member Mohamed Abdel-Aziz said as an amazing gift from heaven. He had been handed a life sentence for a committee tasked with reviewing the cases of youth detained for non- belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated as a violent “politically related crimes” has presented the President with a list terrorist group by court. But his wife of one year insists that he has no of names for which presidential pardon is required. The names included 83 Islamist leanings whatsoever, but was framed by someone who held a who had received final sentences following convictions of illegal protest or grudge against him. in cases concerning freedom of expression. Mr Behery was among these When Muhammad went to prison, Amna led a hard life. She had to work at names. three jobs just to make ends barely meet, but this was not her main problem. Mr Behery, a researcher on Islamic theology who hosted a TV show that Her family, seeing there was no future for the young woman tied to someone discussed religious texts, was serving a one-year prison term handed to imprisoned for life, filed on her behalf for divorce from Muhammad. him in March for disdain of religion and “defaming religious symbols”. During her first visit to Muhammad in prison, Amna told him of the divorce Behery is known for questioning the credibility of some of the sources of case. “Accept what your family says,” he told her. “I will never be back home the Prophet Muhammad’s sayings, known as Hadith, which constitute a till 25 years on.” major source of Islamic jurisprudence. [http://en.wataninet.com/culture_1/ “I’ll wait for you even if it were for 50 years,” she said. liberals-vs-disdain-law/15643/] “Go get married and have children,” he said, “this is your natural need and During a youth conference late last month, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi right, and you don’t have a chance with me.” had hinted at possible pardons for youth imprisoned without conviction and “No,” she insisted, “I have no need for children without you.” said a committee would be formed to review the cases of young people held in pre-trial detention. The presidency later Now Muhammad is back home. Amna says he never complained of any bad treatment during the time he spent in prison, announced the committee would expand its scope to include prisoners who had received final sentences in crimes and that whenever she visited him she was treated with respect. Today they can look forward to having the baby Muhammad involving protest, publishing, and freedom of expression. wanted her so much to have…his own baby. Diplomatic briefs Orange Bike day Mary Fikry Friday 18 November saw more than 5,000 Cairenes gather at 7am in front of the Fish Garden in which has come to symbolise our country.” Antoun Milad Zamalek, all on bicycles and dressed in orange, for what has now become a dynamic tradition: the Orange Bike Day. The bicycling marathon organised by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Cairo Warm-hearted interaction is now in its fifth year. The event was planned with the support of Egypt’s Global Biking Initiative Despite the large, enthusiastic participation in the event, it was obvious many saw cycling as a sport more than a and Abul-Goukh Co. bicycle dealer, as well as sponsors Fayrouz, E7gezly for online booking, and the Dutch companies real means of transport. “It’s next to impossible to go to work in Cairo on a bicycle,” said Muhammad Magdy, a young Farm Frites, Frico, and Unilever. participant in the Orange Bike Day. “What with the hot weather and humidity most of the year, you’d arrive in Clean and affordable a state not fit to be seen.” At 8:30am the marathon started. The riders, Another participant, Mona Tamer, did not agree individual amateurs and members of bicycling teams, with Mr Magdy. She said she has been an avid cyclist cycled through the leafy neighbourhood of Zamalek, since childhood. In reply to a question of whether crossed Qasr al-Nil Bridge to Tahrir Square in central this ever made her an object of harassment, she said: Cairo, then back to the Fish Garden where they were “No, never.” welcomed with refreshments of water and fruit juice, Ahmed al-Dumyati who created the Facebook page as well as potato chips, biscuits, and sandwiches of “Explore your country on bike” said he has cycled not ful and taamiya (cooked beans and falafel) freshly only through Egypt, but also through other countries. made on the folk carts that usually sell them on Cairo One of the Facebook page friends, Muhammad Nofal, streets. left Cairo on bicycle last month. He plans to arrive at The event aims at promoting bicycling as a clean, Gabon next January, Mr Dumyati said, in time for the healthy, affordable means of transport; the Netherlands Cup games to cheer for the Egyptian team. On is famous for the use of bicycles for transport. the way, Nofal will go through Sudan, South Sudan, The Dutch ambassador to Cairo Laurens Westhoff Chad, and Cameroon. emphasised that the cycling tour is part of the Mr Dumyati said he has been all through Egypt on bike. embassy’s continued efforts to promote bicycles “It’s an exhilarating experience,” he said. “You deal with as an efficient and sustainable alternative means places and humans on a totally different level than if you of transport in Egypt. He proudly said that Orange were travelling by car.” In total agreement was Michael Bike Day has grown from only 400 participants Michel who described how “close and warm interaction in 2012 to more than 5,000 cyclists this year. with people is when you travel by bicycle”. The ambassador also explained the relevance of For his part, Bassam Ramadan who founded the the colour orange to the Netherlands, stating: Gang Bike group goes to work on bike, travelling “Orange is the colour of the Dutch royal family. some 20km twice daily. He chose to have his wedding The Netherlands closely identifies with this colour procession on bicycles in his neighbourhood’s streets.

Watani International editorial team: Dalia Victor, Donia Wagdy, Lydia Farid, Nivert Rizkallah, Sherine Nader Copy editor: Jenny Jobbins Layout editor: Heba Adel