Disputes over the land surrounding Abu Fana Monastery in Minya rumble on, reports Reem Leila In a heated joint session held on 22 July by the People's Assembly (PA) Committees of Defence and National Security and Human Rights in an attempt to solve the ongoing dispute over land surrounding the Abu Fana Monastery in Minya, MP Hamdi El-Tahhan criticised both the attitude of Copts towards the Abu Fana issue and their "strange firmness" in claiming the land. The dispute between Coptic monks and local Bedouin erupted on 31 May and quickly degenerated into a street battle that left one Muslim dead and four Copts, including two monks, injured. Subsequently three monks were abducted. Local Muslims claimed that Abu Fana Monastery was seeking to expand on land it did not own. El-Tahhan suggested that the sectarian clashes could have been avoided had the relevant authorities insisted on applying the letter of law. Warning that any repeats of such incidents threatened the stability of the state, he told Al-Ahram Weekly that the law must be enforced and be applicable to all citizens regardless of religious identity or whether the aggressor was a monk or Bedouin Arab. Egypt's Coptic Christian community is as agitated as ever. The fracas over the disputed land surrounding the monastery has incensed many Copts and heightened their sense of insecurity. The incident has prompted Copts to think about the nature of their relationship with the political establishment. Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III has requested several times that those who abducted the monks be brought to justice. Speaking to the Weekly Anba Morcos, Bishop of Shubra Al-Kheima and the Coptic Church's media spokesman, said that though Pope Shenouda does not approve of the demonstrations held by expatriate Copts in several European countries he had urged a quick solution to the ongoing monastery dispute so that protesters would have no excuse to stage further demonstrations. Ahmed Diaaeddin, the governor of Minya, told the joint committee meeting that Anba Dimetrius, head of Abu Fana Monastery, had continued to insist that the monastery owned a large portion of land that in fact belongs to the state. Diaaeddin told the Weekly that, "the documents the monks claim proves their ownership of the land surrounding the monastery turned out to apply to another piece of land". The governor invited members of the committees to visit the site to assess the situation for themselves, arguing that he was committed to protecting Copts and the church in the same way he protected the Muslims, i.e. within the framework of the law. Diaaeddin also warned against attempts to foment discord between himself and Pope Shenouda. "The pope is considered a great religious and national figure who enjoys good-standing among all Egyptians, Muslims and Copts alike," he said. Diaaeddin also revealed that a report prepared by the Supreme Council of Antiquities recommended that the antiquity zone surrounding the monastery be reduced from the current 50 feddans to lessen the grievances of the monastery's Bedouin neighbours. Anba Morcos confirmed that, "the pope strongly rejects the report and ceding of any land affiliated to the monastery or the rights of priests." "Negotiations have been ongoing and continue to take place between the pope and the governor of Minya so that a compromise can be reached that is acceptable to all parties." MP Georgette Quillini believes it is up to the executive to find a solution. The People's Assembly, she says, should implement articles 224 and 231 of the People's Assembly law and form a fact- finding committee that could summon all the concerned parties and determine the facts of the case. She stresses that urgent requests by MPs were not enough to solve the crisis. "The prosecution should examine what happened at Abu Fana while we address the political side of the issue." Anba Dimetrius has called a press conference for 14 August at which he says he will reveal new information about the recent confrontation. The archbishopric's lawyer, Ehab Ramzi, says that Dimetrius will reveal details of the meeting with Minya governor that followed Abu Fana incidents. "Anba Dimetrius has the pope's approval for all the statements he will make public during the press conference. He will also reveal information about the antiquities discovered in the sanctuary surrounding the monastery by an Austrian archaeological mission in 2004."
