WATANI International
17 October 2010
Non-beleaguered Copts
The Copts of Egypt, who reportedly constitute 10-15 per cent of the population, have traditionally been viewed as a ‘beleaguered and persecuted minority’. Using Coptic archival sources, Vivian Ibrahim presents, in her English-language The Copts of Egypt: Between Modernisation and Identity published by I.B Tauris, a fresh and vivid alternative reading of the community during the 20th century. Avoiding the established portrayal of a monolithic entity headed by the Coptic Pope, Ibrahim examines the multifaceted dimensions of the Coptic community, assessing Coptic-State relations on one hand and Coptic intra-communal dimensions on the other. She explores the emergence of a new politically active Coptic class; highlighting popular Coptic grassroots mobilisation during the nationalist 1919 revolution against the British occupation of the country, and offering case-studies of such figures as the Coptic activists Father Sergius and lawyer Makram Ebeid. Breaking with the portrayal of a defenceless community, Ibrahim also reveals a strong Coptic response to the emergence and threats of Political Islam through the press. She presents and analyses for the first time, the unique satirical ‘Ode to the Fezzed Sheikh’, aimed at Muslim Brotherhood leader Hassan al-Banna.
In The Copts of Egypt, Ibrahim also reveals fierce factionalism within the Coptic community in its struggle for modernisation. Through the establishment of benevolent and philanthropic societies, Ibrahim argues that Coptic youths were amongst the first to negotiate a role for themselves in post-revolutionary Egypt. She examines how a group of Coptic youths abducted their Pope Yousap II in the 1950s and forced through their own agenda of religious and political reform.
Vivian Ibrahim is a researcher examining European-Muslim identities at University College Cork, Ireland. She holds a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
Secrets of a Queen
The life of Farida, Queen of Egypt and the first wife of King Farouk, is regarded as one of privilege and glamour, if not always of perfect harmony. She is now the subject of Professor Lotus Abdel-Karim’s new book Farida Misr, Asrar Malika Wa Sirat Fanana (Farida of Egypt, Secrets and Biography of an Artist). The book is published by the Egyptian Lebanese Publishing House.
Abdel-Karim’s book is her third on Farida. In 1993 she wrote about her deep friendship with the divorced queen. In 2008 she issued another book, Al-Malika Farida Wa Ana, Sira Thatiya Lam Taktubuha Malikat Misr (Queen Farida And I, An Autobiography That Was Not Written by Egypt’s Queen).
Lotus Abdel-Karim was one of Farida’s most faithful friends. She was born in Alexandria and graduated with a degree in philosophy from Alexandria University. She gained a master’s degree in social sciences from London University, and went on to gain a PhD in Paris. Her interest lay in writing about prominent figures such as the 20th century writers of novel and romance Youssef al-Sibaee and Ihsan Abdel Qodous, as well as the pioneer theatre and film actor Youssef Wahbi and the writer-philosopher Mustafa Mahmoud.
Complicated relationship
The chapters of Marra Wahed Muslim Wa Wahed Mashihi (Once Upon a Time There Was A Muslim Man and A Christian Man) by Moheb Samir run like scenes in a film; each scene shows various situations between the so-called “two elements of the nation”; Muslims and Christians. Safsafa House, which published this bold and realistic book, predicts that it will achieve great success but arouse huge controversy. Samir writes about the complicated, undefined relations between Muslims and Christians in the context of the Egyptian identity. He depicts day-to-day situations between members of
both religions at school, at university, at work and in the street; mundane situations far removed from sectarian and fanatic conflict.
Widespread websites
Fahd Bin Seif Eddin’s newest book Mawakie al-Nashiroon al-Arab Ala Shabaket al-Internet (The Websites of the Arab Publishers on the Internet) tackles the widespread use of the Internet by Arab bloggers. It includes a study on the reasons and intentions behind the trend, and it could be a good comprehensive tool for evaluating websites in general and specialised ones in particular.
In the last chapter the author presents some conclusions and important recommendations that might help improve the level of these sites and develop the quality of the content.
Blind for three days
Al-Ain House has recently issued a collection of short stories by the novelist Bassem Sharaf, Kafif Li Thalathat Ayam (Blind For Three Days). Sharaf is best known for his novel Gazma Waheda Mali’a bil-Ahdath (One Shoe Full of Events), published by Merit House in 2007. Its first and second editions quickly sold out, and it has even been translated into Norwegian. Sharaf recently had the opportunity to study theatre in Tunisia.
The Rich
Al Aghniaa’ (The Rich), published by Dar Anas Al-Wogood, is a collection of short stories by Mohamed Abdel-Hamid Ali criticising the unnecessary stuffiness of the Muslim Brotherhood. The author tells stories inspired from actual situations of how Muslim Brothers can be strict about words regardless of their meaning; neglecting the whole context or the intent behind their usage.
The collection comprises 35 short stories, among them Umm Ismail Fi Wasat Eialha (Ismail’s Mother Among Her Children); Man Yubadir Yatbauhu al-Akhar (The Initiator is Followed by Others) ; Ustourat al-Sirr (Legend of the Secret); Ba’iat al-Shai (The Tea Seller); and Falantino al-Dharir (Blind Valentino).