Officials revealed that two ex-Coptic Christian monks, Isaiah El-Maqary and Faltaous El-Makary, who killed the head of their desert monastery last year were sentenced to death. In July 2018, Bishop Epiphanius, head of Anba Makar Monastery (Saint Macarius the Great) near Wadi el-Natroun, was found dead “in a pool of blood in his room, with fractures to his skull, as if he had been struck with a instrument, and injuries to his back.” In February, Damanhour Criminal Court issued preliminary death sentences to two monks before the ruling was passed over to the country’s grand mufti for his non-binding opinion as required by Egyptian law. “The defendants were led by the devil to the path of evil and vice,” Judge Gamal Toson of the Damanhour court said in his ruling in February. The accused monk, Isaiah al-Makari, was defrocked by the church days later and arrested by Egyptian authorities. The church released a statement that the monk was investigated even before the murder and that he was committing “inappropriate actions which violate monastic behavior and way of life.” The issue escalated as a second monk, Faltaous al-Makary, attempted to kill himself by cutting…
Egypt’s State of Emergency Extended for 3 Months
According to state-owned news outlet Al Ahram, Egypt’s nationwide state of emergency has been renewed for three months starting Thursday. The renewal, put in place by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, is pending approval by Parliament which is due to take place within the next week. The news was officially announced on Tuesday. It allows the state to”“take [measures] necessary to confront the dangers and funding of terrorism and safeguard security in all parts of the country.” The emergency law can only be implemented for three months, after which it has to be renewed by the president and should be approved by the parliament. It grants Egyptian authorities the right to intercept all forms of communications including social media. Civilians can also be referred to State Security Emergency Courts where they are unable to appeal verdicts, as such, it has been routinely criticized by human rights advocates. The already-in-effect state of emergency was announced last year by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi when two churches were bombed in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday in 2017 killing 47 people. A state of emergency refers to the government’s mobilization and empowerment…
Egypt’s El-Sisi Urges Sudan’s Transitional Ministry Council to Listen to the Protesters
African leaders gathered in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Sudan 12 days after former President Omar Al-Bashir was ousted as a result of four months protests and civil disobedience urging Sudan’s ruling Transitional Ministry Council (TMC) to handover power to a civilian government within three months. Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi emphasized “Egypt’s full support to the choices and free will of the Sudanese people in determining their country’s future, and the consensus they will reach in this critical juncture in their country’s history,” during his opening speech. The African leaders from Chad, Djibouti, Rwanda, Congo, Somalia, and South Africa warned the TMC that if they do not abide by implementing democracy and listen to the demands of the people within the timeframe, the TMC would be expelled from the union. A suspension from the African Union would affect the TMC’s efforts in getting international alliances and recognition as Sudan’s interim rulers. It is important that this situation is resolved to avoid instability in Sudan which, if deemed destructive, will have negative effects on the whole continent. Egypt’s president added that “the consensus (between the civilians and TMC)…
5G to Launch in Egypt at the African Cup of Nations
Huawei announced on Monday evening that it will roll out its 5G network for the first time in Egypt during the African Cup of Nations. The Chinese technology company explained that the 5G network will be launched and tested at Cairo International Stadium, which is set to host key matches during the African Cup of Nations between June and July 2019. “This year, Egypt will host the Africa football champions, Huawei will cooperate with Telecom Egypt to bring 5G technology experience to Egypt for the first time,” said Huawei in a press release. Huawei’s announcement followed a similar announcement by Dr Amr Talaat, the Minister of Communication & Information Technology, who said that Egypt would also be cooperating with Huawei in the field of artificial intelligence. Representatives from Huawei and the Egyptian government have held numerous meetings over the past few years, including two high-level meetings in 2019 to promote digital cooperation between Egypt and China. According to Huawei, the Chinese company has been operating in Egypt since 1999 and is keen to ‘match the government and Egyptian market demands and contribute to Egypt’s digital economy development’. US, UK and…
Egyptians Vote 88.83% in Favour of Constitutional Amendments
Egypt’s National Elections Authority announced on Tuesday that Egyptians have voted to pass a number of constitutional amendments in a public referendum, with 88.83% voting in favour. The turnout was average, with 44.3 percent of 61,344,503 eligible voters participating. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, whose term has been extended by two years as a result of the referendum, thanked Egyptians for their patriotism and participation. Over the past three days, Egyptians cast their ballots on constitutional amendments to the 2014 charter, which were approved by the parliament with a majority, with 531 out of 596 members voting in favour, 22 voting against and one abstention. Here is a summary of the articles amended: Article 102 (first paragraph): This article aims to reduce the number of elected MPs in the House of Representatives (Egypt’s lower house of parliament) from 596 to 450 MPs, with 25 per cent of seats (112 seats) to be reserved for women representatives. Article 140 (first paragraph): The president of the republic shall be elected for six (instead of four) years by the end of his predecessor’s term, though he/she cannot remain in office for more…
Sisi: Human Rights Are A Top National Priority
During a meeting with Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Commissioner Soyata Maiga on Monday, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi claimed that the advancement of human rights is a top national priority for the country’s Vision 2030. The president noted that the government exerted a lot of effort in improving the economic and social standard of living as in Egypt, particularly in regards to removing slums and providing housing for about 1 million citizens living in unsafe areas. The president also highlighted the government’s campaigns to eliminate hepatitis C virus and put an end to the patient waiting list system, as well as other campaigns related to the education sector, social insurance and women empowerment programs. He also highlighted other social programs aiming at empowering youth and people with special needs, as well as promoting religious tolerance. The Egyptian President affirmed that Egypt pays a special importance to ensuring the success of the 64th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR, which will be held in Sharm El Sheikh from April 24 to May 14. Issues to be discussed in the forum in Sharm El-Sheikh will include the…
Egyptian President and Religious Institutions Condemn Sri Lanka Attack
Following the tragic attacks in Sri Lanka, world leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, have stepped in to condemn the attack. Al Sisi offered his condolences to the families of the victims in his official Twitter account. “I offer my sincere condolences and condolences to the victims of the terrorist acts that have taken place in the state of Sri Lanka, which are not aimed at a particular state but at all humanity. All of us – in their place – must stand today in our historic responsibility for these acts that are devoid of all human meaning,” he stated. Moreover, according to Al Ahram, presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady relayed that the president called for collective and international efforts to halt terrorism which has routinely targeted people inside houses of prayer and elsewhere. Nine bombings in Sri Lanka targeted Christian churches and hotels in three cities on Sunday. The death toll has risen to at least 290 people and wounded more than 500 others on Easter Sunday, according to officials. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also proceeded to release a statement in which it condemned the series of attacks. “Egypt…
Egypt’s Christians Celebrate Palm Sunday
Today is Sunday, the day Christians in Egypt celebrate the “Shaanin” or Palm Sunday, commemorating Christ’s entry into the city of Jerusalem surrounded by worshippers carrying palm fronds and olive branches. Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark led the Palm Sunday Mass at the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El Natrun in Beheira, north of Cairo. Palm frond vendors also stopped in front of churches and streets to sell the fronds in forms of crosses, ornaments and various shapes. According to the traditions of the Coptic Orthodox Church, they will start a totally vegan fast 55 days ahead of Easter Sunday in preparation for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and denial of ego. According to the Gospels, Christ rode on a donkey into Jerusalem, and the people there laid down cloaks and small branches of trees in front of him, singing part of Psalm 118: 25–26 – “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.”…
Egyptian Peacekeeper Killed While on Mission in Mali
According to a press statement released by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, a UN peacekeeping envoy in Mali was hit by a roadside explosion resulting in the killing of one blue helmet Egyptian and wounding four others. The convoy near the border with Burkina Faso when a roadside mine exploded. “MINUSMA peacekeepers responded, killing an assailant and apprehending eight others,” said the UN chief, in the message issued by his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric. “The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the victim and to the Government of Egypt. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.” Guterres also condemned the incident, stating that it may constitute a war crime. According to the MINUSMA website, Egypt has deployed 1, 078 officers into MINUSMA. It is fourth troop contributor, with an additional of 144 police contributors. As such, Egypt ranks number one among Arab countries in contributing personnel to UN peacekeeping. MINUSMA, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, took form in 2012 following extremist militia seizure of northern Mali territory. Its primary aim is to stabilize the country following the 2012 rebellion in which the Malian government had to…