Religious Freedom

After the uproar that ensued after the Awqaf Ministry's of Endowments banned communication or actions with the Evangelical Church, it would appear that both sides are working to contain the situation.

"The Ministry of Awqaf wanted, via its statement, for there to be coordination between them and the Evangelical body," Dr. Rev. Safwat el-Bayadi, following the visit of an Awqaf delegation to the Evangelical Church today, told MCN.

"The Awqaf Ministry statement was very brief, and it demanded no dealing with the Evangelical Church, however after it was returned to the Ministry the statement is now understood as a kind of boycott," he continued. more >>

One of the lawyers who submitted complaints against Abu Islam for religious defamation said the Egyptian judiciary is not serious in dealing with cases regarding contempt of Christianity.

Lawyer Guirguis Bebawi noted that 'Sheikh' Abu Islam has not been imprisoned during his investigations, as is law, instead his supporters besieged the High Judicial Council when the prosecutor decided to imprison him for four days pending investigations.

Bebawi added that the court postponed the lawsuit numerous times, including once again on Monday, and have yet to take any serious steps on the issue. He said this is contrary to the active and speedy approach by the court to religious defamation cases against Islam. more >>

The American Center for Law and Justice received news that U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini has been severely beaten in Evin Prison in Tehran, denied proper medical care, and experiencing fainting spells.

"Pastor Saeed reported today that last week he was severely beaten when the prison officials took him to the hospital. During the weekly prison visit today, Pastor Saeed's family reported that his physical condition is worsening – seeing first-hand the marks and symptoms left by the recent beating. These beatings and the internal injuries are causing Pastor Saeed frequent fainting spells," the law group, which is representing Abedini's wife and two children back in America, revealed in a statement on Monday.

The Iranian-born pastor, who converted to Christianity and was building an orphanage for children when he was arrested in Tehran last year, was sentenced to eight years in prison in January for "endangering national security." The ACLJ called that a "sham trail," however, noting that the real reason behind Abedini's sentence was his faith. more >>

Sabri Ebada, undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf in Gharbiya, said the ministry issued a written order to stop dealing with the Evangelical Church in Egypt for reasons that were not immediately revealed.

The Ministry of Awqaf's decision was signed by Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Razik Abdel Hadi, the undersecretary for mosques, and Dr. Abdu Ali Meklad, senior undersecretary of the ministry. The decision prevents all departments across the country from having dealings with the Evangelical Church of Egypt.

According to Sada el-Balad's website, Ebada said the written decision was issued by Dr. Meklad, deputy of the Minister of Awqaf and head of religious affairs. more >>

Mohamed Hamd el-Gamal, former head of the State Council, stated that Egypt's Interior Ministry and the Muslim Brotherhood have adopted a plan to eliminate Copts and media figures supportive of Copts in the country.

Gamal added that the detention of Coptic activists who had been injured during the skirmish was a reflection of the current discrimination Copts experience by those in power.

Gamal noted that the authorities have not arrested those people who attacked St. Mark's Cathedral, although cameras captured a large number of them carrying firearms during the attack. more >>

In the wake of the attack on Coptic Christians attending a funeral at St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, an Egyptian Oppositions Court judge decided that four Christians should remain in detention for 15 days pending an investigation into who participated in the attack.

Amir Nassif, an attorney for the accused Copts, expressed disbelief at the ruling, given that recordings taken from the attack show security forces had in fact attacked the cathedral.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide stated that it appeared that the four Christians were detained for the sole reason of being at the cathedral during the attack, according to the Coptic Maspero Youth Union. more >>