A Sense of Belonging

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Rebel Positioning

God, June 30 looms, and Egypt’s political players are getting ready. The bulk of opposition parties have signed on to a grassroots campaign to call for early presidential elections. Named ‘Rebel’, they have collected millions of signatures, seek a total of fifteen-plus, and plan a massive rally at the presidential palace on the anniversary of … Continue reading »

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Culture

God, As earlier crises continue, another one lingers in the background, and it is hard to know if it is trivial or essential. As Egypt’s politicians agitate over the Ethiopia dam, and as the people continue to collect ‘rebellion’ signatures, the nation’s artists stage a revolt of their own. President Morsi appointed a new minister … Continue reading »

Mapping the Coptic Movements: Activism in a Revolutionary Setting

From my recent article at Arab West Report, an extensive, interview-based effort into the diversity of Coptic activist movements: One of the distinguishing sub-themes of the Egyptian revolution which began on January 25, 2011, has been the proliferation of Coptic movements. Largely, though not entirely, contained in the church during the Mubarak era, Christian Egyptians … Continue reading »

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Dam, Servicemen Voting

God, Trouble in Egypt this week is long term, but there are always some to make it short. In an effort to develop domestic water and energy resources, Ethiopia began redirecting the Blue Nile in preparation for dam construction. Downstream, Egypt fears a reduction in water – a severe problem for a desert nation with … Continue reading »

Egyptian Government Restores Antiquated Church

From Ahram Online, official promotion of Egypt’s Christian heritage: On Wednesday, Mostafa Amin, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), inaugurated the Abbey Church of the Apostles in Atfih town in Giza governorate after the completion of its restoration with a budget that reached LE6 million. The opening came within the framework of … Continue reading »

Egyptian Sumo Wrestling and Chess

From Ahram Online, providing a necessary break from politics to highlight Egyptian sporting success: The first professional sumo wrestler from either Africa or the Arab world was given a boost Wednesday, winning promotion to the sport’s second highest division in Japan. The Japan Sumo Association promoted 21-year-old Egyptian Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Shaalan, who goes by the … Continue reading »

Torture: Why I Signed the ‘Rebel’ Campaign

From Ahram Online: In order to justify removing a standing president, first an author must defend his democratic credentials. After an extended introduction, he writes: This was last October, and up until that point I had been convinced that President Mohamed Morsi was the legitimate president of Egypt, and that even though I did not … Continue reading »

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Release

God, With great relief and little wrangling, the abducted security personnel in Sinai were released this week. The president, political parties, and military all celebrated their peaceful transfer through the intervention of tribal chiefs in the area. No negotiation, no bloodshed – all celebrated a successful resolution. Successful, that is, with two lingering uncertainties: No … Continue reading »

Video: Hypocrisy, Honor, and the Egyptian Media

Though Islamists currently govern Egypt, they often behave as if they are still an oppressed minority subject to endless conspiracies. Among their chief targets of complaint is the independent media. Here, they have a point. Riham Said receives a prominent Islamist lawyer, Sheikh Youssef al-Badri, on her show and proceeds to bait and berate him … Continue reading »

Saying Good-Bye: Part and Parcel of an Expat’s Life

Growing up I lived the first 18 years of my life in the same house, only moving to go to college. My mom has lived in the same town her entire life, and all four of my siblings still live within 20 minutes of that town. I didn’t grow up saying too many good-byes for … Continue reading »

Amr Hamzawy on the MB Shadow Government

From Arabist, translating an article by political commentator and liberal politician Amr Hamzawy: The bifurcation of Egypt’s government into an official and unofficial administration – as has been noted before – is at the root of a serious crisis that is blighting the chances for democratic transition and the rule of law. One half of … Continue reading »

A Signature Rebellion

I got in a taxi on Thursday and within a few minutes of conversation the driver asked my nationality. This has been a sensitive question recently; last week an American near the embassy answered in the positive and was stabbed in the neck for his troubles. ‘I hate America,’ the assailant confessed afterwards. For the … Continue reading »

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Sinai, Rebellion

God, Egypt is not quite rumbling again; bubbling is more like it, though the bubbles can grow bigger. Security apprehended alleged terrorists plotting to blow up the US and French embassies, while their colleagues in the Sinai abduct seven security officers. In Cairo a small protest in Tahrir threatens a creative escalation. The ‘rebellion’ campaign … Continue reading »

John Stott and the Power of a Tweet

From a recent blog post by the charity Coptic Orphans: John Stott was an Anglican writer and student of the Scriptures. Christianity Today reprinted a sermon he gave on “Four Ways Christians can influence the world.” Then, someone asked on Twitter, and @Copticorphans retweeted: “How does this apply to Copts in Egypt?” How can Copts … Continue reading »

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Activists, Shuffle

God, The news is not new, but it is current. This last week has seen another spate of activist arrests, coupled with yet another shuffle in the cabinet. The themes are on repeat with only names differing. But names can make all the difference. One of the activists’ names is Ahmed Maher, founder of the … Continue reading »

With the Holy Family in Upper Egypt: A Pictorial Travelogue

From April 25-28 I traveled with Arab West Report through a few Upper Egyptian Holy Family sites, places Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are recorded to have stayed according to Coptic tradition. This travelogue will share some of the insights and anecdotes learned along the way, by means of pictures taken at each location. Please click … Continue reading »

MB Leader’s Teenage Son Killed in Mob Violence

A horrible account of vigilantism mixed with politics, from Ahram Online: Security sources told Ahram Online that hundreds of El-Qataweya village residents ransacked the house of Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) leader, Rabie Lasheen, in the early hours of Friday, setting his furniture and three cars on fire apart from killing his son. Revenge was … Continue reading »

Emigration at Easter: Fight, Flight, and Resignation

From my latest article in Egypt Source, culling attitudes on emigration from a recent trip to Upper Egypt: “I have nightmares every couple of days,” said Sara Shuhdi, a 23 year old assistant professor of analytical chemistry at the German University of Cairo. “I don’t see a bright future for Egypt; maybe it would be … Continue reading »

On US Policy toward Egypt

From the Washington Post, in an op-ed from Nathan Brown, a respected Egypt expert: The U.S. message to Morsi should no longer be “We’re with you, watch out for some details around the edges.” Instead, Obama officials should be telling Egyptian leaders: We’re extremely concerned about your violations of core political and legal principles; we … Continue reading »

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Easter Greetings

God, There is much that Egyptian Muslims and Christians agree upon, much which unites the two and allows them to pray similarly. But at one point the religions are rather irreconcilable: Jesus was not crucified, and therefore was not resurrected. There is no Easter, celebrated by Copts this coming Sunday. Fair enough. There are plenty … Continue reading »