Egypt is suffering its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a former finance minister of the country and one of its leading economists have warned.
In terms of its devastating effect on Egypt's poorest, the country's current economic predicament is at its most dire since the 1930s, Galal Amin, professor of economics at the American University in Cairo, and Samir Radwan, finance minister in the months after Egypt's 2011 uprising, said in separate interviews with the Guardian.
Dr. Mohamed Mounir Meghaed, coordinator for Egyptians Against Religious Discrimination (MARED), said that the Muslim Brotherhood uses religious defamation accusations as a way to terrorize religious minorities in Egypt.
He added that the law is used against ordinary citizens but not public figures. “The judiciary is not separate from society so it can adopt double standards regarding these cases,” he stated.
“President Mohamed Morsi is not a president of all Egyptians as he claims, rather he is the Brotherhood’s representative in the presidency.”
The latest public opinion poll conducted by The Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) revealed that Egyptians have continued to show dissatisfaction with President Morsy’s job. The approval rating has hit a record low, with only 46 percent of Egyptians saying they think he has performed well, slightly lower than the percentage observed in the last month poll, which reached 47%. This approval rating is much far behind the percentage he earned after the first hundred days, when 78% of Egyptians said they approved of his performance. ]
http://baseera.com.eg/baseera/pdf_poll_file_en/Pres10%20Month-En.pdf
Why are Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Christians one of the most oppressed minorities in the world? Author Ramy Tadros investigates this question, among many others, in his new book, "The War of the Words: Oppression, Egypt's Copts, and the State".
Sydney, Australia
Eyes blazing, body tensing, mood darkening – he leans across the table and voices his worries: "No one cares. No one is listening. No one is helping the Coptic Orthodox Christians living in Egypt." He then slumps in his seat and surveys his surroundings.
Wasfi Amin Wassef used to buy and sell jewelry from his shop in Cairo's vast Khan al-Khalili bazaar. Now he mostly buys it.
Egyptian Armed Forces Fire At Coptic Monasteries, 19 Injured
By Mary Abdelmassih- Details
- Published on Friday, 25 February 2011 01:21
By Mary Abdelmassih 
For the second time in as many days, Egyptian armed force stormed the 5th century old St. Bishoy monastery in Wadi el-Natroun, 110 kilometers from Cairo. Live ammunition was fired, wounding two monks and six Coptic monastery workers. Several sources confirmed the army's use of RPG ammunition. Four people have been arrested including three monks and a Coptic lawyer who was at the monastery investigating yesterday's army attack.
Monk Aksios Ava Bishoy told activist Nader Shoukry of Freecopts the armed forces stormed the main entrance gate to the monastery in the morning using five tanks, armored vehicles and a bulldozer to demolish the fence built by the monastery last month to protect themselves and the monastery from the lawlessness which prevailed in Egypt during the January 25 Uprising.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TZNjKYEPFI
"When we tried to address them, the army fired live bullets, wounding Father Feltaows in the leg and Father Barnabas in the abdomen," said Monk Ava Bishoy. "Six Coptic workers in the monastery were also injured, some with serious injuries to the chest."
The injured were rushed to the nearby Sadat Hospital, the ones in serious condition were transferred to the Anglo-Egyptian Hospital in Cairo.
Father Hemanot Ava Bishoy said the army fired live ammunition and RPGs continuously for 30 minutes, which hit part of the ancient fence inside the monastery. "The army was shocked to see the monks standing there praying 'Lord have mercy' without running away. This is what really upset them," he said. "As the soldiers were demolishing the gate and the fence they were chanting 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Victory, Victory'".
He also added that the army prevented the monastery's car from taking the injured to hospital.
The army also attacked the Monastery of St. Makarios of Alexandria in Wady el-Rayan, Fayoum, 100 km from Cairo. It stormed the monastery and fired live ammunition on the monks. Father Mina said that one monk was shot and more than ten have injuries caused by being beaten with batons. The army demolished the newly erected fence and one room from the actual monastery and confiscated building materials. The monastery had also built a fence to protect itself after January 25 and after being attacked by armed Arabs and robbers leading to the injury of six monks, including one monk in critical condition who is still hospitalized.
The army had given on February 21 an ultimatum to this monastery that if the fence was not demolished within 48 hours by the monks, the army would remove it themselves (AINA 2-23-2011).
The Egyptian Armed Forces issued a statement on their Facebook page denying that any attack took place on St. Bishoy Monastery in Wady el-Natroun, "Reflecting our belief in the freedom and chastity of places of worship of all Egyptians." The statement went on to say that the army just demolished some fences built on State property and that it has no intention of demolishing the monastery itself (video of army shooting at Monastery).
Father Hedra Ava Bishoy said they are in possession of whole carton of empty bullet shells besides the people who are presently in hospital to prove otherwise.
The army attack came after the monks built a fence for their protection after the police guards left their posts and fled post the January 25th Uprising and after being attacked by prisoners who were at large, having escaped from their prisons during that period.
"We contacted state security and they said there was no police available for protection," said Father Bemwa," So we called the Egyptian TV dozens of times to appeal for help and then we were put in touch with the military personnel who told us to protect ourselves until they reach us." He added that the monks have built a low fence on the borders of one side of the monastery which is vulnerable to attacks, on land which belongs to the monastery, with the monks and monastery laborers keeping watch over it 24 hours a day.
The monks of St. Bishoy are now holding a sit-in in front of monastery in protest against the abuse of the army by using live bullets against civilians
Nearly 7000 Copts staged a peaceful rally in front of the Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, where Pope Shenouda III was giving his weekly lecture (video), after which they marched towards Tahrir Square to protest the armed forces attacks on Coptic monasteries.
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