Conference announces that female circumcision against Islam CAIRO: In a move that is likely to win international support but fuel domestic dissent, the International Conference for Preventing the Violation of Women’s Bodies announced Thursday that female genital mutilation (FGM) is contrary to Islamic beliefs and is considered an attack on women. The conference, held from …

CAIRO: Despite official statements to the contrary, Egypt is especially concerned about the state of Sunnis in Iraq and fears the hegemony of the Shiite majority over the war-torn country according to experts. Last week’s decision by the Shiite-controlled Iraqi Interior Ministry to arrest Sheikh Harith Al-Dhari, secretary general of the Association of Muslim Scholars …

CAIRO: Members of the country’s blogging community have said there is a marked increase in the arrests and detainment of online writers expressing their views on religion and society. Bloggers are being increasingly targeted by state authorities because they provide truthful accounts on events in contrast to state-owned media and press outlets, which often tend …

The 23rd meeting of the Union of Arab Writers adjourned Tuesday after deciding to annually commemorate the achievements of writers on Nov. 21 – Arab Writers Day. The meeting held at the Arab League for the first time since 1979 when the union was transferred to other Arab countries after Egypt signed the Camp David …

King memorial arouses the question of whether his legacy has been forgotten Thousands of people gathered on Nov. 13, in Washington’s National Mall to inaugurate a memorial to honor the African-American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., most notably known for his inspiring “I Have A Dream speech, delivered in Washington in 1963. That …

Israeli innuendo and concern for Sinai security fuel stepped up efforts to secure area ISMAILIA: Two days after an Israeli minister accused Cairo of not providing enough security along the border with Gaza, Egyptian police found at least two tons of explosives in the Gebel Maghara area in the northern Sinai Peninsula and also large …

In a tit-for-tat war of words, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni is demanding that parliament apologize for the way MPs referred to him during a heated discussion on Monday and Tuesday. Angry MPs who charged Hosni had no right or authority to criticize the hijab headscarf called on the government to force the culture minister …

CAIRO: Farouk Hosny, Minister of Culture, is currently facing mounting pressure from MPs to issue an apology for calling the hijab head scarf repressive or resign. Hamdy Hassan, a Muslim Brotherhood MP told The Daily Star Egypt: “This is the least thing we can do to him. Instead of promoting our Egyptian culture and its …

Israeli innuendo and concern for Sinai security fuel stepped up efforts to secure area ISMAILIA: Two days after an Israeli minister accused Cairo of not providing enough security along the border with Gaza, Egyptian police found at least two tons of explosives in the Gebel Maghara area in the northern Sinai Peninsula and also large …

President gives strong indication that he intends to remain in power for some time yet CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak won’t step down and it is not clear whether the planned constitutional amendments will allow more candidates a fair chance to run in presidential elections. I will carry on with you, crossing to the future, shouldering …

76, 77 Committee focuses on constitutional amendments and need for amendments CAIRO: A group of intellectuals, politicians and constitutional experts have established a committee to pressure the government to undertake genuine constitutional amendments and are ready to take to the streets to further the cause of what they call crucial democratic reforms. But cracks may …

Experts term hardliner’s recommendation “saber rattling CAIRO: An Israeli minister has reiterated calls for his country’s military to invade and occupy the Gaza Strip, including the border region with Egypt. Avigdor Lieberman, the minister for strategic threats, said Israel’s security depends in part on “taking back control of the Gaza-Egypt border to stop weapons smuggling. …

Opposition group Kefaya called for a demonstration in support of judicial independence on Friday, to coincide with a meeting of the Judges syndicate. Only 30 people attended the demonstration. “People are afraid, said Kefaya member Ahmed Abdel Latif. “If we do anything, state security will come and attack us. The judges met to begin contentious …

But will the reforms go far enough, ask analysts The Egyptian political arena is rife with speculation regarding President Hosni Mubarak’s promised package of democratic reforms and his speech to Parliament regarding constitutional amendments on Sunday. Sweeping constitutional amendments are expected, but analysts and opposition party members say there is no clear idea how acute …

CAIRO: A protest planned by Kefaya, the Revolutionary Socialists, and the Muslim Brotherhood in response to the recent killings of Palestinian women and children in Beit Hanoun was called off on Thursday due to intimidation and alleged threats from security, organizers said. A field of police and security officers in plainclothes surrounded the small group …

Demonstrators, bystanders assaulted and harassed on streets of downtown CAIRO: Political activists from opposition group The Street is Ours called for a demonstration in front of downtown’s Metro Cinema on Tuesday afternoon to demand government accountability for the alleged instances of sexual and physical harassment that took place in front of the movie theater during …

CAIRO: Egypt has barred several members of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt s strongest opposition group, from travelling to Jordan for an event commemorating the group s founder, the Brotherhood said on Thursday. Brotherhood deputy leader Mohamed Habib told Reuters the members had wanted to travel on Wednesday to a celebration marking the centenary of the …

Free Student Union elections held in protest of campus clampdown on activism CAIRO: Students for the second year in a row voted this week in parallel, unofficial Free Student Union elections with candidates mostly composed of students affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and socialist groups. The elections came amid controversy and violence that erupted two …

Spokesman dismisses idea that non-Copts should have say in church affairs CAIRO: Coptic researchers and intellectuals attending the Secular Vision on Church Problems Conference Tuesday demanded reform and a larger role for secularists in the running of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The conference came on the sidelines of the Coptic Church’s celebration of Pope Shenouda …

CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian unity talks, an official said. President Abbas and President Mubarak met over breakfast and discussions are ongoing, an official at the presidency said on condition of anonymity. Palestinian officials are currently engaged in …

CAIRO: Restarting the Middle East peace process depends on an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier captured by Gaza militants in June, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said Tuesday. The peace process depends on several factors, the most important one being resolving the question of an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for the Israeli …

Associated Press RAFAH: A Palestinian legislator who tried to return from Egypt to Gaza was briefly detained Tuesday when found to be carrying $2 million in a suitcase, Egyptian security officials said. The incident appeared to be another case of the Hamas-led government trying to circumvent the international sanctions on bank transfers to the Palestinian …

President Mubarak meets in Cairo with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Associated Press Arab leaders and top US, European and U.N. diplomats held key talks Wednesday in an attempt to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process even as a deadly rocket attack by Palestinian militants in Gaza raised fears of an increasing cycle of violence. The rocket …

Activists had gathered to call for fight against sexual harassment Activists from “The Street is Ours , an opposition group, were barred from holding a demonstration protesting alleged incidents of sexual attacks three weeks ago. Dozens of cars and armored vehicles and hundreds of state security members filled the blocks surrounding the Metro Cinema, the …

Activist allegedly detained by authorities in attempt to stop protest march CAIRO: A group of around 40 people chanting the slogan, No money for trash that is not taken away from our houses, marched from Giza Square to the governorate building to protest the governor’s decree to add garbage collection fees to electricity bills. Why …

Organization’s stance response to non-existent peace process CAIRO: The Arab League’s decision to lift the financial embargo on the Palestinian territories was a reflection of the frustration in the Middle East, Arab League spokesman and advisor Alaa Roushdy told ITALICS The Daily Star Egypt ITALICS. Roushdy added that the Arab stance was a response to …

Agence France-Presse LONDON, Nov 14, 2006 (AFP) – Al-Jazeera is out to capitalize on the strategic importance of London as a European capital when it kicks off its English-language service Wednesday. The Al-Jazeera International venture is out to make a splash and has recruited a string of top television faces from the BBC – which …

Moussa says this is message to those unfriendly to Arabs CAIRO: The Arab League has decided to lift the financial blockade on Palestine in response to the US veto of a UN Security Council draft resolution condemning the Israeli attack on the Gaza town of Beit Hanun last Wednesday. “Our message is loud and clear …

CAIRO: Egyptian police have detained the opposition Kefaya movement s coordinator in western Cairo hours before he planned a demonstration to demand better public services, the movement said on its Web site on Monday. Mohamed El-Ashkar, an activist who organizes Kefaya in Giza province, was picked up and questioned on Sunday, it said. A few …

The third way may be the key to breaking the stalemate CAIRO: France pledged to step up its peacekeeping funding and to cooperate with an Egyptian plan to break the diplomatic stalemate that has paralyzed peace efforts in the war torn Darfur region of Sudan, according to reports. The Egyptian plan could see troops from …