Egypt posts record EGP629b primary surplus in 2024/25    EGP swings vs. USD in early Sunday trade    EGX launches 1st phone app    Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Official rules out sectarian strife
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 11 - 02 - 2010

EGYPT'S Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mufied Shehab on Thursday played down reports about the presence of sectarian strife in Egypt, saying sporadic clashes between Muslims and Christians were about isolated actions that should not be considered Phenomenon.
Shehab said radical religious discourse and extremist thoughts were behind violence, but still people did not need to blow things out of proportion.
"This isn't to say that sectarian violence isn't present at all," the minister told media who came to listen to his briefing about Egypt's new report to the UN Human Rights' Council.
But this might not be the viewpoint harboured by several local and international organisations, which have been citing rising sectarian tensions in Egypt, a country where a Christian Coptic minority makes up 10 per cent of the population.
Local NGO the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights cited rising tensions and attacks against Egypt's christians over the last three months in its latest report, which was released four days ago. Shehab said Egypt's report to the Human Rights' Council covered sensitive issues, such as the capital punishment, police torture, and freedom of religion.
According to him, overpopulation and lack of awareness posed real challenges to improving Egypt's human rights record.
The report was sent to Geneva in November, but the board of the council had queries about it, Shehab said.
He added that the council staff asked about if Egypt could remove the capital punishment from its penal code and replace it with the life sentence.
"They also had questions about press freedoms, the need to have foreign monitoring over elections, and the emergency law," Shehab said.
These were also sticky issues for Egypt's human rights groups as well.
These groups say the Government has disregarded vital violations in its report to the Human Rights Council, including the emergency law that has been in place since 1981 too.
"We're ready to answer all questions about the report," Shehab said. "We've already prepared the answers," he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.