1 March 2013 BREAKING NEWS Egypt bans YouTube

Amid heavy media presence, a crowd of young protesters gathered in front of the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Mokattam on Thursday night to perform the Harlem Shake.

A joint statement released on Friday signed by 22 human rights organisations condemned the “authoritarian trends pursued by the party of President Mohamed Morsi”, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), as well as Morsi’s government. The organisations also condemned “the lack of respect for international standards of human rights, particularly with regard to freedom of association”.

Egypt’s churches have called for more accurate representation of the Coptic population in the census. “Statistics in Egypt are inaccurate,” said Evangelical Church spokesperson Ikram Lamei. “Officials often use figures to serve political or security purposes.”

Aswan authorities heightened security around the Mar Girgis Church in Kom Ombo on Thursday, fearing renewed clashes with protesters who had attacked the church after a Muslim woman disappeared.

Abdel Halim Kandil, political thinker, said on Twitter that interior ministry has used prohibited weapons against the demonstrators in Mansoura.

Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa was arrested in Assiut on charges of detaining Coptic Christian minor girl in his house.

“Headline” program aired on ON TV private television has interviewed a couple of students from different schools who were punished for missing prayers and not wearing veil.

Romany Gad, human rights activist, told Copts United that a Muslim lessor has deiced to expel a Christian tenant, only because of his religion.

The British survivor of the Luxor balloon disaster has paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as "my rock, my friend, my shoulder to cry on".

Egyptian press said yesterday that government will rent many Egyptian antiquities for 200 billion EGP, as part of an evil plan to smuggle and rob them.

Administrative Court ruled today to cancel the presidential decision to allow governors to prevent or permit church building, modification or expansions.

Investigations after four Christians were killed in Burj Al Arab, Alexandria, showed that a worker has shoot them to death along with their Muslim body guard for mistreatment.

Dr. Essam el-Erian, prominent leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, said that he doesn't think there is a crime behind ballon accident in Luxor yesterday, in which 19 tourist have died, and similar accidents happen all over the world.

Abba Markos, Bishop of Shubra Al Khaimah, told Copts United that a group of Salafis have gathered in front of St. Makary Church to check the license of the building.

Sami Diab, human rights activist, told Copts United that militias of the Muslim Brotherhood have attacked the peaceful protesters holding sit-in in front of governorate headquarters in Mansoura.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, leader of Hamas, has described the people of Sinai as criminals and outlaws. Later, “Our Sinai Organization” has issued a statement, in which it said that people of Sinai have been sacrificing for the Palestinian issue, and supporting the Palestinians.

Dr. Ali Abu al-Kheir, political analyst, told Copts United that a number of militants have attacked the statue of King Ramses in Mansoura trying to demolish it, but many citizens have stopped them.

Hisham Zaazou, Egyptian Tourism Minister, flies tomorrow to Tehran in order to discuss ways of cooperation and sign a number of agreements that encourage Iranian religious tourism to Egypt.

Rev. Sameh Mouris, pastor of the Evangelical Church in El Dobara Palace, called the congregation in his sermon yesterday to fast with the Coptic Orthodox Church for three days.

Brookings, a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions, said in a report “Egypt is at the edge of bankruptcy; it has enough reserves to pay for food and fuel imports for only three more months; the government and the opposition are locked in a game of chicken”.