With Egypt still shaken by the church bombings in Alexandria, newspapers are for the most part dominated today by portrayals of national solidarity with the victims and with sectarian unity in Egypt. Photos of a meeting of religious leaders, people holding up crosses next to crescents (or Qur’ans), and other forms of solidarity cover most front pages.
Al-Ahram writes about Egypt’s ability to stop the “despicable conspiracy of the forces of darkness,” highlighting a meeting yesterday between Pope Shenouda III, Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gom’a, Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayyeb, and the Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) at Abassiya Cathedral when Muslim clerics went to pay their condolences.
Al-Tayyeb insisted that terrorism in general must be fought, adding that if it is left unchecked, “tomorrow the Alexandria bombings will target any mosque.” He also announced the formation of “The Egyptian Family House” which will include prominent members of al-Azhar as well as the Coptic church, to combat sectarian tension.
Pope Shenouda III confirmed that he would be go ahead with Christmas prayers, saying that cancelling religious services will mean that terrorism has succeeded in halting them.
From a security perspective, the Minister of Interior (MOI) and the Attorney General are cooperating to determine the dimensions of the attack. The MOI confirmed that they had “gotten hold of the first strings that will lead to the perpetrators,” and that the explosive used in the attack was TNT.
State-run Al-Akhbar is void of content other than headlines confirming social solidarity between Egyptians and the progression of investigations into the attack. The headlines are mostly in the form of quotes. Most prominent is the Attorney General's quote in which he says that no details of the investigation will be revealed before it is concluded. The Ministry of Information also said that there will be added vigilance in protecting “vital” institutions this year.
As for the autopsy reports, 15 corpses have been positively identified, while the search for three female victims' identities continues.
Independent paper Al-Shorouk focuses more on the autopsy reports, stating that “all the corpses belong to Coptic victims, and there isn’t one Muslim body among them,” contrary to earlier reports. Three of the bodies are unidentified women, while an 18th body will have to undergo DNA tests before being buried.
Al-Shorouk also reports that camera surveillance of the church was minimal and the only cameras in the area belonged to ATM machines and large stores. A security source is cited as saying that the government will install security cameras at the entrances of all churches for their protection. The Attorney General’s investigation continues, and security forces have arrested around 30 shop owners from the nearby area.
The independent paper also includes two other front-page stories–one containing news of the constitutional court nullifying the constitutionality of the law concerning “democracy of the labor syndicates.” Al-Shorouk adds that this decision represents a “a deviation from the use of power as well as a clear violation of the Constistution.”
The second story is that the president’s political advisor “sees no early breakthrough in the Nile water issue.”
Independent daily Al-Dostour highlights different forms of solidarity with the victims, beginning with a meeting held by members of opposition parties and the parallel government, “including the Muslim Brotherhood,” to condemn the attacks and set forth a plan to ensure national unity and avoid sectarianism. The panel agreed to choose January 7 (Coptic Christmas) as the day for National Unity and joined a demonstration in Shubra to show their desire for unity, alongside other social “movements” such as the Kefaya movement.
In terms of other demonstrations, Al-Dostour highlights those taking place in Alexandria, Mansoura and Zamalek organized by Christian and Muslim youth. Many of the chants and slogans at these demonstrations are quoted, such as: "We either live together, or we die together… Long live Egypt's mosques and churches, long live Egypt, Mohamed and Jesus."
The Ministry for Social Solidarity, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Immigration have begun paying out a total of LE25,000 each to families of the deceased, and LE5,000 each to injured victims. The Physicians Syndicate has also donated a total of LE150,000. Al-Dostour also points to the international spotlight currently on Egypt with a headline “The world's papers: Sectarian violence (in Egypt) threatens the peaceful transition of power.”
Independent Al-Wafd is the only newspaper to mention the anger of the Coptic community toward the government, quoting angry anti-government chants during the victims’ funeral. The four ministers who attended the funeral were heckled by the mourners to chants of, “No, no. We don’t want you!” The ministers were reportedly kept in the church until the mourners dispersed.
In another display of anger by Coptic protesters, some young demonstrators cut off the Autostrad near Mansheyyat Nasser and damaged passing vehicles with rocks and other missiles.
The paper also reports the security forces’ intention to resurrect some of their files on potential terrorist sleeper cells, while, according to Al-Wafd, reports from the US Embassy suggest that some “elements of the FBI” will try to collect information on the incident.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party
Youm7: Weekly, privately owned
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
