Thursday’s papers: Clashes between Copts and cops, electoral rulings, and contested bids

Egypt's newspapers focus much of their front-page coverage on Thursday, 25 November to the sectarian clashes that erupted Wednesday between Coptic Christians and police in the neighborhood of Omraniya, Giza.

The clashes took place around the headquarters of the Giza Governorate, and centered around a dispute over building permits for a Christian community center in Omraniya, which Copts are seeking to convert into a church. The violence left one 19-year-old Coptic male student dead and dozens of protesters and police injured (the exact numbers are disputed).

Construction and renovation of churches in Egypt requires authorization from the respective local governorate. Copts complain of religious discrimination regarding these regulations.

The largest front-page headline of state-owned Al-Ahram pertains to President Mubarak's summit with the Emir of Qatar in Doha. Its second largest headline reads: "67 injured, one student dead, and 156 arrested in Giza during unfortunate incident," with the sub-headline "General prosecutor warns against violations of law.. Al-Azhar and church leaders call for national unity."

The following article mentions that nearly 3000 Copts converged on the headquarters of the Giza Governorate following the issuance of an order to halt construction of the unauthorized Omraniya church.

"One dead, tens injured during clashes between Copts and police in Giza," is the chief headline in independent Al-Shorouk newspaper. The article's sub-header reads "Muslims and Christians protests along the ring road in support of the construction of the Omraniya church." Other sub-headers read: "43 protesters injured, 13 amongst ranks of police including Giza's deputy security chief;" and "Security forces use tear gas to disperse protesters."

Yet another sub-headline reads: "Giza Governorate: There will be negotiations to resolve this dispute." The article estimates the protesters numbered roughly 1000. It also mentions police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd after they blocked off the area's vital artery, Al-Haram Street.

The opposition Al-Ahrar Newspaper ran a chief headline reading "One youth dead, 67 injured during violent clashes between Copts and police in Giza– in protest against order to halt construction of church with building code violations." Another large headline reads: "Protesters stormed governorate headquarters, injured deputy security chief of Giza, and blocked-off the ring road–the governorate failed to reach (Pope) Shenouda."

In the Al-Wafd liberal opposition newspaper, the headline reads: "Unfortunate incident in Omraniya following halting the construction of church lacking permit." The sub-headline reads: "3,000 Copts attack Giza Governorate building and police with stones and Molotovs." Smaller headlines read: "51 injured," including two high-ranking officers, and, "Death of a Christian…Arrest of 133 trouble-makers."

Yet another sub-header reads: "Protesters blocked-off ring road and Al-Haram Street. Threatened to set fire to gas station." The article mentions that seven police officers and 11 conscripts were injured, while 33 protesters were hurt, and a 19-year-old Coptic male died. The article also mentions that the protesters wreaked havoc on Giza Governorate headquarters, destroyed much of its exterior, and then moved to destroy a kiosk used by traffic police as well as several troop-transport vehicles. Protesters then reportedly launched rocks, stones, Molotov cocktails, and empty glass bottles at police forces."

In the independent Al-Dostour: "Rumor leads to bloody turn of events in Giza." Smaller headlines read: "Youth killed, 40 injured in clashes between police and Copts;" and "Bulldozer driving past the church under construction leads to rumors regarding demolition orders." "Sources: this incident is an attempt to spoil elections…Unknown elements attack governorate building," is yet another. Al-Dostour claims that "trouble-makers" infiltrated the protest in Giza with the aim of ruining the parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 November.  

In other news featured on the front page of Al-Dostour, a headline pertains to Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel Hadi's trip to the Delta." Aisha in Damietta: We are not youngsters in need of monitoring from America."

In Al-Ahrar: "A day of rulings against the National Democratic Party at the administrative court." The article's sub-header describes how the court "rules against the designation of the crescent and camel (mascots/electoral symbols) for NDP candidates…Elections halted in four circuits within Qalyubiya Governorate." The article mentions that the Administrative Court ruled against the monopolization of these two electoral symbols on behalf of the ruling NDP. The court also ruled against the NDP's monopolization of the numbers one and two for its candidates–as it places these nominees at the head of electoral ballots in all governorates, to the disadvantage of candidates from opposition parties and independents.

Al-Shorouk runs a similar headline: "Judicial uprising against National Democratic Party and the High Elections Commission." This article mentions that the Administrative court issued a verdict against the NDP and the government-appointed High Elections Commission. The court found that the NDP and HEC have prioritized ruling party candidates by granting them the popular symbols of the crescent and camel as well as granting them the prime ballot real estate. The court ruled that candidates should be granted these symbols and numbers based on the chronological order of their nominations, not on the basis of their affiliation to the ruling party.

In Al-Wafd: "Administrative Court rules against issuing the crescent and camel symbols to NDP candidates." Another headline reads "Security assaults supporters of Wafd candidate in electoral circuit of Al-Labban and Al-Attarin; protect hired thugs working for NDP candidate." The article claims police forces have sided with the ruling party's candidate in this Alexandria circuit, at the expense of Wafd candidate Mustafa Ibrahim Talaat.

In related elections news, a headline in Al-Aharm reads: "Acts of violence, bribes, and utilization of houses of worship by most candidates." The article's sub-header reads: “Egypt welcomes international media and grants permits to 498 foreign correspondents to cover elections.”

In Al-Ahrar: “498 foreign correspondents to cover elections,” and in another headline; “For the first time…Deployment of female police officers during elections.”