Coptic Solidarity After the latest round of attacks on Egypt’s Christian minority—which saw at least one Copt stabbed to death and many Christian homes and a church burned—Coptic Bishop Makarious of al-Minya, the region where many of the attacks on Christians take place, was interviewed on television. Although Church authorities in Egypt are regularly diplomatic and … [Read more...]
The Two Faces of Al Azhar
Coptic Solidarity In a statement titled, “The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies Calls on Al Azhar’s Sheikh to Renounce His Remarks Which Contradict Religious Freedom and Support Violent Extremism,” the institute blasted Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb’s recent remarks concerning apostasy, first reported in the English here. Though Tayeb is often portrayed as a … [Read more...]
Islam: Religion and Polity
Coptic Solidarity. French What is the role of Islam in Muslim society? Is it just a religion to be practiced privately, as Christianity is understood in the West? Or does it call for theocracy—governance according to the laws derived from it, also known as Sharia? Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb—currently Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar University and former Grand Mufti of … [Read more...]
Will the Terrorization of Egypt’s Christians “Never Stop”?
Originally published by Gatestone Institute under the title, “Egypt: New Attacks on Christians.” In a chronically familiar scene, angry, rioting Muslims in Egypt burned down around 80 Christian homes on June 17. In the words of one of the victims, Moses Zarif, On Friday afternoon, after noon prayers, a large number of Muslims gathered in the front of the new house of my … [Read more...]
Egypt’s Top “Moderate” Cleric: Apostasy a “Crime,” Punishable by Death
Coptic Solidarity The line between “moderate” and “radical” Muslim continues to fade. On the question of apostasy in Islam—whether a born or converted Muslim has the right to abandon Islam for another or no religion—the radical position is well known: unrepentant apostates are to be punished with death. Yet one of the Muslim world’s greatest authorities, the Grand Sheikh … [Read more...]