Just before Easter, Human Rights Service (HRS), the Oslo-based foundation for which I serve as information director, got a tip about what was described as an intense pressure to wear hijab at Vahl

While the debate rages about the White House policy regarding conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, a very real war is being waged here in America…by President Obama and his appointees.

The extremist thought which spreads a culture of hate and discourages accepting the ‘other’ is now on the rise. It has been steadily infiltrating our society, streets, public transportation, and even private cars.

CAIRO: In October, the American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released its comprehensive report, “Mapping the Global Muslim Population.” The ambitious project numbers both the population and

The high rates of air pollution in Egypt are common knowledge. But it is very much distressing to realise that they are the highest worldwide.According to the Economist, Cairo tops the list of the worst 55

ONE of the biggest persistent challenges facing Egypt is the water shortage that curbs any development,especially agriculture. Some parts of the Delta have started to suffer a shortage of irrigation

About a month ago, one of my friends inquired about the reason for my absence in the funeral procession of celebrated Egyptian artist and art critic Ahmed Fouad Selim. "Selim died two weeks ago,"

The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) issued its fifth report last September, covering the state of rights in Egypt throughout 2008.Two items figured highly on the report and were described as causes

Today is the fifth of November, 2009, and the hot news that is circulating the American and international media comes from Texas. An American officer of Palestinian Islamic heritage opened fire on his American officers’ colleagues in Ft. Hood, killing at least thirteen and injuring thirty while he was crying

THE way the UN Development Programme con- vinced Bedouin women of Siwa Oasis in the Egyptian Western Desert to overcome their illit- eracy sets an example as to how certain objectives have to be pursued in non-traditional ways.

THE Central Agency for Auditing,an official agency, has recently shocked the public by issuing a report showing that around 48 per cent of the Egyptian citizens have no access to sewerage services.

ISTANBUL, November 9 (Compass Direct News) – A Coptic Christian blogger in Egypt held in prison for more than a year without charge said today he will go on a hunger strike unless authorities grant his next application for release.

Will the anticipated Cabinet reshuffle in Egypt,whether it is on a limited or a large scale,solve the accumulated problems of this country of 80 million?The names of the outgoing ministers or of those taking the oath are not as important as the presence of a well-

When Marx described religion as the opium of the people, he was expressing a 19th-century view of the effects of Christianity on the working class. Like many secularists, Marx believed that turning to religion for consolation was both an expression of real suffering

Among the worst and most painful of the Coptic grievances are those pertaining to the curtailment of their rights to adequate, legal places of worship. The scarcity of permits to build churches drives

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. It’s a simplistic, often flawed, and yet pervasive ideology. To me, it seems the only logic – if such a word can be used – reasoning behind Morris Sadek’s argument in his latest blogumnist post here on Bikya Masr, where he outlines Jewish-Coptic common roots, and the official position of the National American Coptic Assembly on the Arab-Israeli conflict. It makes for grim reading.

Egypt has a unique political system and language. The system is made to serve the regime’s purpose inside the country as well as its relationship with the international world. Egypt became a republic after the 1952 coup, as in any republic system the president has to be elected among others who are bidding to lead the country. Citizens vote for the candidate whose promises meet their needs.

When Mohamed Hassanein Heikal recently announced his suggestions for transferring power away from President Hosni Mubarak, it seemed to send ripples through stagnant waters.

PRESIDENT Hosni Mubarak 's address at the 6th annual congress of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)was highlighted in yesterday 's press.However,comments on the congress agenda and key addresses of the party leaders varied widely between semi-official

Some readers did not accept my argument that Jews, like Arab Muslims, are the victims of racism and xenophobia inherent in the West. I discussed that argument in my comments on the results of the

Readers who followed last month’s four editorials on the grievances of the Copts of Maghagha and Adawa in Minya, Upper Egypt, will have found no difficulty in spotting the root of the persecution and