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www.meobserver.org 2 Home 18 April 2018 E gyptian Christians on the path to the Holy Sepulchre Eastern Orthodox followers mark Palm Sun- trip to Jerusalem in November 2015 to attend 71 of Law 47/1978 in the Civil Servants Law El-Sayeh said. “You feel the hand of God. This from around the world seek tattoos as lasting day on April 1st and mark Easter on April 8th. the funeral of late Archbishop Abraham, as the that allows Muslim employees a paid leave to is the lifelong dream of every Christian in Al- memories of their pilgrimage to the Holy City. Christians believe that Easter marks the day head of a delegation of bishops and church of- perform pilgrimage, since Christians are not Kosheh.” Now, it is a dream increasingly be- Razzok tattoo claims to be the only remaining when the miracle of Jesus Christ’s resurrec- ficials. This trip might have encouraged more given the same privilege to visit their holy sites ing realised. Last year, El-Sayeh and 25 others traditional pilgrimage tattoo business in the tion occurred. However only a few Egyptian Egyptian Christians to act upon their religious in Jerusalem. The court ruled this article, which from this town, 300 miles south of Cairo, made world. Seven hundred years ago, according Christians have visited the holy land in Jerusa- aspirations. According to Religion News Ser- regulates the work of civil servants and grants an Easter pilgrimage to Jerusalem, part of a to family lore, the Razzouks began tattooing lem due to a ban that was enforced in 1980 by vice “the number of Egyptian tourists to Israel Muslims the right to take a one-off paid vaca- growing number of Egypt’s Coptic Christians fellow Coptic Christians in Egypt. They con- the late Pope Shenouda III in protest against the nearly doubled from 4,428 to 7,450 between tion to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca, violates doing the same, RNA reported. tinued the practice after moving to Jerusalem Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. 2014 and 2016,” said Sabin Haddad, a spokes- several articles of the 2014 constitution. “The Perry Chiaramonte, a Fox News reporter, around 500 hundred years ago, eventually of- According to Sonia Farid from Al Arabia the woman for Israel’s Population and Immigration ruling is a major step towards full citizenship believes that the Egyptian government’s execu- fering their services to Christians of all denom- ban dates back to his predecessor Pope Cyril Authority. rights for Egyptian Christians,” said lawyer tive authority has also contributed to the recent inations, according to Times of Israel. VI, who initiated the ban in the wake of the Another motivation, that could lead to a Naguib Gabriel as reported by Al-Ahram. uptick in Coptic pilgrimages to Jerusalem. He Some critics could raise questions about how 1967 defeat, in which Israel occupied Jerusa- further increase in numbers of pilgrims, is the Merchant Refaat El-Sayeh, a Coptic Chris- says: “president El-Sisi has enacted laws to this recent increase of number of pilgrims from lem. Throughout that time, a few Copts have Egyptian judiciary’s historical sentence ren- tian, wanted to see the Church of the Holy Sep- normalise construction of church buildings, Egypt could affect the Israeli-Palestinian peace defied the ban and many of them have asked dered by the Egyptian Constitutional Court ulchre in Jerusalem and visit the Church of the a long-standing issue of contention with the negotiations; for those concerned Palestinian for forgiveness following their return, some in February 2017 ruling that Christian civil Nativity in nearby Bethlehem, but mostly, he Muslim majority, and has made repeated out- president Mahmoud Abbas says: “Do not leave through public apologies in official newspa- servants have the right to a paid month leave wanted to feel closer to God. For years, the reach efforts to the community,” as published us alone. Going to Jerusalem is not going to Is- pers. to perform pilgrimage (once) in their lifetime pilgrimages for Egypt’s Coptic Christians, like by Fox. rael and supporting Israel. It is supporting Pal- However, Pope Shenouda III died in March like their Muslim counterparts. A verdict that El-Sayeh, were discouraged. “To visit Jerusa- There is a Coptic tattoo shop in Jerusalem estinians,” as reported by Al-Ahram. 2012 and his successor Pope Tawadros made a was based on the unconstitutionality of article lem and the holy places was always my wish,” called Razzouk Tattoo were Christian tourists By:Sherif Abdelghaffar need to learn more about partnership in a marriage Men Egypt has recently been suffering the high divorce rate in Egypt; wom- working in a factory for 10 years and from a very high divorce rate, peaking en are pressured to conform with the have been sustaining my kids and my- in 2017 with a total of about 190,000 norms of a society (that sees marriage self financially; he is an alcoholic and cases, according to the central bureau for women as security and a target that in fact he was taking my money and of statistics. the girl needs to achieve to be com- abusing me. I filed this case, as I no Maysa Shawky, Deputy Minister of plete) and get married, they are usu- longer want him in our life and he is and Health and the General Supervisor of ally exposed to family pressures and in turning into a bad model for my kids. the Council of Population, Childhood most cases they rush into marriage for My family was opposing to such a and Motherhood, has said that the di- the wrong reasons, either to conform step, however I hired a lawyer without vorce rate in cities recorded 60.7 per- with the envisioned future set forth by waiting for their consent”. Domestic cent, while 39.3 percent were recorded the family or to escape from the main violence remains a key factor in devel- in the villages. family’s house pressure,” says Dr. oping the divorce rate phenomena and It is to be noted that fifty years ago, Sadek “ It is to be noted that “kholae”, has fuelled most of the Kholae cases Women Egyptian families were concretely which is the legal option for women to in court. tight, with minor divorce cases wit- end their marriage, also did lead to an H. D., an Egyptian male in his 30’s, nessed, marriage was based on tra- increase in the divorce rates, as a lot say: “I would say that the financial ditions and acquaintances. Families of women to take such a decision for reason is one of the core reasons for managed to deal with disputes within variable reasons, Dr. Sadek added. the high divorce rate in Egypt, with the elder members of the family whose Dr. Sadek noted that the financial respect to the various social classes decision was the ultimate factor; an aspect, is regarded as an important in the society. I would say that some action defined in Islam for solving factor leading to the increased divorce girls are raised in a wrong way; they marital disputes by judging a respect- rate phenomena, He explains that the are not accustomed to bear any types ed wise member from each family who financial aspect is one of the core rea- of responsibility, especially if her par- meet, discuss and agree to a solution. sons behind the higher divorce rates ents are rich; they overburden the male Yet, there is no doubt that the Egyptian experienced. “60% of young couples with a lot of financial obligations that society has witnessed a transforma- in Egypt get married with the finan- he cannot afford, like getting a maid to tion over the past 50 years. Many of cial support from their parents”. On cook and clean, traveling or fancy life- the women within this type are either the other hand, Expenses of marriage styles which turns crazy along time, young, uneducated or dependent on thereafter, makes marriage difficult especially with the increased financial another. due to obligations set forth to devel- burdens of bringing up children and Dr. Said Sadek, explains that in op a household, an issue that causes sustaining a decent living, and under Egypt we have two main types of mar- multiple disputes. Furthermore, some these pressures some men and women Miss Communication riage. The first type is the traditional husbands take more than one job to resort to divorce. marriage; within this frame women maintain expenses, especially with the Finally, Dr, Said Sadek concludes get married, most likely to their cous- increased expenses due to the current by noting that if the individual is hap- ins, relatives or family acquaintances. economic reform. pily married, this will be reflected on Within this type, a lower divorce rate In fact the financial factor is why the whole family; it is always better is recoded, as families do get engaged many youngsters prefer to stay single no to rush into marriage for the wrong Financial pressures in solving disagreements and advising and avoid the responsibility of mar- reasons; it is better to invest time and solutions. The second type of marriage riage, and if they do get a divorce they effort in understanding your partner, is modern marriages; within this type are reluctant to go into a second mar- his expectations, income and goals to of marriage, women work, and are able riage and might resort to other options plan for a better life rather than saying to sustain themselves financially,they that other singles resort to. Like choos- yes to social pressure.