Egypt in the news on 12 May 2019
Heated debate over “dress codes” for Coptic Christians: Comments made by Coptic priest Daoud Lamei about women attending church in clothing that is too revealing have drawn both praise and criticism from Egyptian Christians, AFP reports. The remarks, which were made in an Easter sermon, come in the wake of a controversial online campaign that urged women to “cover up, so we people can pray.”
The US’ proposal to designate the Ikhwan as a terrorist group would be welcome in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, but not as much in other countries, David Kirkpatrick writes for the New York Times. The Ikhwan, which Kirkpatrick says is “far from monolithic,” includes political parties that are pro-American in some other countries.
Other headlines worth a skim this morning:
- Illegal immigration: Egypt has deported 79 Sudanese migrants attempting cross into Libya, the Associated Press reports.
- A number of Egyptians who were onboard a migrant boat are missing after the boat, which was en route to Europe from Libya, capsized on Friday, reports the AP.
- Censorship: Cairo-based outlet al-Mashhad is the first entity to have been penalized under a new media law issued by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) that will now see it blocked for six months, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
- Dog ban: The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a temporary ban on dogs imported from Egypt due to rabies concerns, ABC News reports.
- Egyptian woman on hunger strike: Marwa Kenawy has been on hunger strike since 31 March after her son was killed by celebratory gunfire at a wedding, but two of the responsible culprits remain at large, reports ABC News.