Sunday, Egyptian media reported on the places of worship law, the Muslim Brotherhood's participation in elections, and European telecom companies' role during the January 25 Revolution. Youm7: The former head of the Egyptian Bar, Sameh Ashour, said the new Judicial Authority Law breaks international standards. He said it is not acceptable that judges can monopolize law reform, as it is a part of the constitution. Ashour, who is running for chairman of the Bar, said, “I want to resume the march towards reform.” Ashour said that Muslim Brotherhood is an organized and powerful group, but cannot control the Bar. Regarding military rule, Ashour said he does not want continued rule by the Military Council but he rejects the council from stepping down at the current time. Former Minister of Interior, Habib al-Adly, had surgery to remove cataracts from at the Police Academy Hospital Saturday. Saad Abboud, a leader in the al-Karama Party said that Adly must not be treated at the Police Academy Hospital as member of the police, particularly after a court ruling excluded him from his post. Al-Ahram: The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production, Ali Sabri, said Egyptian military production grew by five percent during first quarter of 2011 despite the current circumstances in Egypt. Sabri also said Egypt must develop factories in the military sector and improve efficiency to increase production and support the national economy so that it can cover the armed forces' needs for equipment, weapon, and ammunition. Al-Akhbar: The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) said they would not contest more than 50 percent of seats in the People's Assembly. However, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Brotherhood's political wing, made up 75 percent of the electoral list for the Democratic Alliance and 90 percent of individual candidates. Sources said the large rate of MB participation was to due to the lower number of parties that will participate in elections as part of Democratic Alliance. The number of parties shrunk from 43 to nine. Most of these parties are not running for elections on worker or farmer seats. Dr. Wahid Abdul Magid, head of the electoral coordinating committee of the alliance, said they would hold a meeting after applying for elections to organize campaign tactics. Al-Masry Al-Youm: Sources in the Egyptian cabinet confirmed that the cabinet would submit a house of worship law Wednesday. Another ecclesiastical source said that the Orthodox Church is organizing committees in governorates to reveal unlicensed churches, estimated at 1500 churches. Al-Shorouq: Marity Chuck, member of the European Parliament's Committee of Foreign Relations said European telecommunications companies were involved in cutting off service during the January 25 Revolution. Chuck said the EU preferred preserving its interests rather than supporting human rights. She said that EU is ready to present any aids to Egypt to achieve democracy. Regarding the Maspiro clashes, Chuck said what happened could have been prevented. Chuck also said that she hopes to see the new Egypt, but she still sees the practices of the former regime. The Egyptian Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mohamed Salem said the salaries of Telecom Egypt leaders were reduced by 30 percent. Salem added that he is committed to investigate corruption in the company immediately. Al-Gomhorreya: Emad Effat, General Secretary of “Dar al-Fatwa” issued fatwa, or an Islamic legal opinion saying that voting for former regime remnants during the upcoming parliamentary elections is forbidden according to Islamic law because it contributes to corruption. Effat also said that his Fatwa is based on the former regime remnant's aim to destroy the future of Egypt. Sheikh Abdul Hamid al-Atrash, former head of the Fatwa committee at Al-Azhar, rejected the mutilation of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi's body. He said that is forbidden according to Islamic law. Atrash also refused referring to Gadhafi as “martyr” because he shed Muslim blood to stay in power.
