Religion
Archaeologists unearth ancient Christian city in Egypt
The remains of a basilica and buildings dating to the fourth century AD has been discovered at the Ain al-Sabil area of the New Valley Governorate. This is the first excavation at the site and researchers hope more discoveries will be made. Egyptian Christians (Copts) trace their history back to just after the Crucifixion, when... »
Christmas in Egypt
Image by madmonk via Flickr Hotels and touristic outlets in Egypt have long celebrated Christmas for tourism-related reasons. However, over the past few years, the holiday has been visibly gaining ground throughout various strata of Egyptian society. Around 10 December, the Christmas buzz starts to hit with displays popping up in almost every major Cairo mall.... »
Religious edict threatens Egypt’s national heritage
A group of Egyptian citizens have filed a complaint to the office of the attorney-general demanding the cancelation of a preacher’s television program after he issued a fatwa (a religious edict) on the sale of antiquities. Sheikh Mohamed Hassan, a prominent preacher, currently presents a program which is aired live, features inquiries via phone calls... »
Sex education banned in Egypt’s schools
The Egyptian government has decided to scrap all content in the secondary school curriculum relating to sex education, reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases. Biology students in the 16-17 age range will no longer study anything pertaining to reproductive health. Students aged 13-14 will see their science book lightened by a few pages with the... »
Egypt to woo Arab tourists for Ramadan
Image via Wikipedia During Ramadan, Muslims who are fit and able are required to abstain from food, drink and smoking during daylight hours. They then traditionally gather to break the fast at sunset with their families for the iftar meal. For many Muslims, Ramadan is therefore not a time to book holidays abroad, but a time... »
Unified call to prayer will be first activated in Greater Cairo
Image via Wikipedia For more than 13 decades, the call to prayer has begun five times a day via microphones attached to Egypt’s mosques. Many of muezzins (the person who recites the azan or calls to prayer) have imperfect voices thus creating a citywide cacophony while reciting the azan. Although each of the five prayers... »
Egypt top court overturns Coptic remarriage ruling
Egypt’s highest judiciary body on Wednesday overturned a ruling ordering the Coptic church to allow its faithful to remarry, the official MENA news agency said, in a move welcomed by the church. The Supreme Constitutional Court overturned a May decision by the High Administrative Court that obliged the head of the church, Pope Shenuda III,... »
Egypt court: Coptic church must allow remarriage
Image by Bakar_88 via Flickr A court in Egypt has ordered the Coptic church to allow its faithful to remarry, quashing an appeal by the head of the church. “By law, a Christian can remarry and the constitution guarantees his rights to have a (new) family. The appeal by Pope Shenuda III to prevent Copts from... »
Arabian Nights too hot for some lawyers in Egypt
Image by jennaddenda via Flickr Arabian Nights, the classic collection of folk tales of magic lanterns and flying carpets also known as One Thousand And One Nights, has been deemed obscene by a group of Islamist lawyers. The literary classic features characters such as Scheherazade, Sinbad the Sailor, Aladdin and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,... »
Elton John concert banned in Egypt
Egypt’s musician’s union Sunday rejected plans for British singer Elton John to perform a private concert scheduled for May 18, because of his “controversial remarks attacking religions”. The pop superstar, 63, stirred controversy after his remarks to US celebrity news magazine Parade in February, where he said “Try being a gay woman in the Middle... »
