The Egyptian regime since Gamal Abdel Nasser has remained steadfast in underplaying sectarian incidents and emphasizing national unity among all Egyptians, despite the occurrence of violent incidents, according to “The Copts” by veteran journalist Abdel Latif El-Menawy.
Author of “Tahrir: The Last 18 Days of Mubarak,” El-Menawy’s latest book examines the rifts between Muslims and Christians in Egypt. El-Menawy, who was a senior member of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, tackles a very sensitive subject in a remarkably objective and unbiased manner.
“Egypt was fertile ground for Christianity,” El-Menawy writes. In the 14th century, Pharaoh Akhanatun declared an early form of monotheism as the state religion. According to scholars, Christianity was spread among the Greek-speaking Jews of Alexandria, before moving onwards to North Africa.
The name Copt stems from the old name for Egypt, “Aigyptos,” which became “Gyptios” in the native Coptic language. The Arabic word “qubd” is the root of the English word, Copt.
The Romans oppressed the Christians in Egypt, especially under the reign of Diocletian (245-313). The Roman persecution of Christians in Egypt continued even after Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. After the Romans came the Persians in 619 and ten years later, the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Heraclius who took over Egypt and reinstated Roman rule.
The Muslims reached Damascus in September, 635. Three years later, in 638, Caliph Omar ibn Al-Khattab arrived victoriously in Jerusalem. When he entered the Church of the Resurrection, it was time for the afternoon prayer. However, Omar ibn Al-Khattab did not want to pray inside the church and prevented his soldiers from doing so “because it might have sent a precedent for Muslims to begin laying claim to churches as mosques” explains El-Menawy. Therefore, the caliph and his army prayed outside.
A year later, Amr ibn Al-Aas and his small army of about 4,000 soldiers reached Egypt. The Muslim armies were considered to be more courteous than the Byzantine forces and the Roman legions, according to the book.
According to the Coptic historian Severus Ibn Al-Muqafa, “Amr wrote a note to Egypt’s people saying: The position of Benjamin as the Patriarch of Christians is protected by our pledge, safety and security granted by God. He may come in peace to his followers… When Amr saw Benjamin, he indulged him and said to his companions: ‘In all the places we have conquered so far, I never saw a man who looked like this. Then Amr turned to him and said: “Manage all your possessions and all your men and handle their affairs.”
The Arabization of Egypt did not take much time. Within a century, Arabic became the country’s official language and the Coptic language, derived from the Ancient Egyptian language known as “Late Egyptian,” stopped being spoken in the 13th century.
Writer Hasseinein Heikal remarks that Roman and Hellenistic rule governed Egypt for years and yet was unable to enter into the hearts and minds of the Egyptian people.
When the Crusaders arrived in the region, the Copts did not welcome them, despite their common religion. The Crusaders belonged to a sect of Christianity known locally as the “Western Church,” whose beliefs were different to those of Eastern Christians.
This put the Copts in a difficult position because their shared religion with the invaders subjected them to increased taxes in order to finance the Muslim defense of Egypt. Also, because the Coptic community was a natural ally of the Muslims, they were killed along with the Muslims when the Frankish king of Cyprus invaded Alexandria.
By the end of the Crusades, the Copts had proved their loyalty to their Muslim rulers and this formed the basis of a period of co-existence that lasted six centuries. During the Mamluk era, the Copts were limited to tax collection, financial activity and business. From then, the Copts became known for their business and financial know-how. “The Copts were the rock upon which Egypt built its administrative affairs,” El-Menawy writes.
During the British occupation of Egypt, which began in 1882, the British made every effort to attract Copts and they portrayed themselves as the protectors of the Christian minority. However, within a few years, Egyptians of all religions could no longer be subdued by the occupying forces.
“Despite the fact that the Copts only represented some 10 percent of the population, Coptic aspirations were enmeshed with those of their fellow Muslims. Both camps realized that attempts at divisions could not succeed. Crossing communities, the sheikhs of Al-Azhar called for revolution in the churches and the priests preached uprising in the mosques,” El-Menawy writes.
Then, independence was declared in 1922 and, later on, a coup was staged by the Free Officers in 1952.
During the ensuing rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Christians’ citizenship rights were respected. However, when he implemented his nationalization policies, these laws mostly affected the Egyptian bourgeoisie. Although he managed to maintain unity between different religious groups, a decline in the influence of the traditional Coptic elite was clearly visible as many wealthy Copts decided to emigrate abroad.
From the very beginning of his rule, Anwar Sadat had a difficult relationship with Pope Shenouda III, which ended with the latter’s house arrest. Sadat’s lenient attitude toward Islamists increased sectarian clashes between Muslims and Copts. He used Islam to consolidate his power, but was eventually killed by the very people he had tolerated. His assassination was planned by the Islamists he had released from prison. While President Sadat used “surprise, confrontation and a degree of provocation,” Hosni Mubarak was known for analyzing and evaluating his decisions. “He would not rock the system. In practice, this meant dealing with crises and disasters by seeking stability. It also meant the avoidance of unrest by provocation. Change was gradual…rather than through any kind of sudden redirection” writes El-Menawy.
Although Mubarak’s government was more tolerant toward the Copts, his National Democratic Party stopped nominating Copts for roles in parliament and local councils. The Copts also did not benefit from equal representation in state institutions and were not given top jobs in government.
For his part, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has denounced Islamist extremism, spoken in defense of Copts and even had the government rebuild some destroyed churches. However, the author feels that not enough is being done. The Copts, whose cultural heritage predates the 7th century Arab invasion, complain that they are being treated like second class citizens. Some Copts are choosing to emigrate, but many are deeply attached to their ancestral land and refuse to leave Egypt.
The Coptic question needs to be resolved. The state, with the support of the Egyptian people, should play a more active, impartial role.
Investigating the rift between Copts and Muslims in Egypt
Investigating the rift between Copts and Muslims in Egypt
Immersive installation takes center stage at Quoz Arts Fest with ENESS’s ‘Forest Dancer’
DUBAI: As part of this year’s Quoz Arts Fest in Dubai, ENESS, the Australian-based creative studio, will debut an immersive light and sound installation titled “Forest Dancer and the Path to Pure Creation” at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue on Jan. 25-26.
ENESS founder Nimrod Wies said that the installation symbolized “freedom and joy through creativity.”
“The artwork promotes the idea that embracing your creative gifts positively impacts those around you and inspires you to find your place in humanity through art,” he said. “We hope that visitors experience joy and playfulness in our exhibition and take away from it the inspiration to fill their lives with creativity and expression.”
The installation features inflatables packed with computers controlling sound, lightplay and motion-tracking LED eyes. “The biggest challenge is that we arrive from the other side of the world and we work all hours to create a completely immersive artwork that takes over any space that it occupies,” Wies said.
“The most rewarding part of my journey has been to exhibit all over the world and see different people respond to the artworks. I love seeing the appreciation audiences feel and experience, and hearing their joyful feedback.”
Speaking about the festival’s appeal, Wies said: “Working with Quoz Arts Fest suits the ENESS vision because we love to be involved in local cultures and bring our work to thriving areas with all-ages audiences who are open to new ideas. We think that the Alserkal neighborhood is the coolest place in Dubai.”
Wies said that public art created opportunities for alternate behavior and emotion. “Public spaces are generally relatively codified with clear designations for what sort of behavior is undertaken where. However, the introduction of public art can reconfigure a space visually, emotionally and behaviorally.”
Looking ahead, Wies said: “We have works coming up all around the world. We are looking forward to our next experience in Saudi Arabia.”
Rare Vatican artifacts on show at Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
- More than 500 historic items, contemporary artworks on display
- 1685 Nile map’s journey to Jeddah a ‘cultural milestone’
JEDDAH: A six-meter map of the Nile believed to be more than 300 years old has left its home in the Vatican archives for the first time to become the centerpiece of the second Islamic Arts Biennale launched in Jeddah on Saturday.
Visitors to Jeddah’s Western Hajj Terminal, the biennale venue, can see the map along with 10 other artifacts from the Vatican Library.
The historic chart, drawn with watercolor ink on Venetian paper and depicting historic sites along the Nile, has been dated to around 1685.
Its inclusion in the biennale marks a cultural milestone, showcasing the Vatican’s commitment to interreligious and intercultural dialogue, according to Vatican archivist and librarian Angelo Vincenzo Zani.
The map underwent restoration by the Vatican before making the journey to Jeddah. It is displayed alongside a sister map of the Arabian Gulf from the National Library of Qatar.
Both maps are believed to have been acquired in the 1700s in Constantinople by Giuseppe Alemanni, a Lebanese librarian who later became the Vatican Library’s prefect.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the exhibition in Jeddah explores faith by juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures.
• More than 30 cultural institutions have provided objects from their collections, as well as 29 newly commissioned works of art.
Zani attended the biennale’s opening ceremony and later told Arab News that the artifacts highlight a rich history of cultural exchange and shared knowledge.
“I think this Islamic Arts Biennale is very important. The concept of art is very important — to expand knowledge and creativity. Art is an emotion that we can all understand. It can cross over in a dialogue that is ‘in between’.”
The 2025 biennale’s theme, “And all that is in between,” draws from the Qur’anic verse “And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between.”
The Vatican Library is also showcasing several works from its collections in “The Art of Numbers” display at Al-Madar section of the biennale.
Al-Madar, or “The Orbit” section, features items from 20 institutions with significant Islamic art collections worldwide.
The section examines the role of numbers in collective history, exploring their origins in natural calculations and applications across Islamic culture, mathematics, architecture, music, design, celestial and terrestrial mapping, ocean navigation, trade and geometric patterns in Qur’anic decoration.
Heather Ecker, Al-Madar’s curator, said the Vatican Library, which was established in the Middle Ages, is the oldest taking part in Al-Madar.
“The Vatican has Arabic manuscripts on virtually any subject, and has a large collection of early Qur’ans. It has early translations of the Qur’an, of which we are exhibiting several,” she said.
Ecker said the Nile map appears to have been linked to a travel log and is a visual record of a journey.
“The maps were created from the written text and from memory, apparently,” she said.
“It’s not a map as we conceive it, because it is image with text, with annotations that correspond to observations made during the voyage and notes taken. It collapses geography in a certain way, so it scrunches up the land between the Nile and the Red Sea, for example, in order to include more sites such as Jeddah.”
The map has been in the Vatican since the late 18th century, but had never been restored and was first shown in 2021, Ecker said. The Diriyah Biennale Foundation helped fund its restoration and conservation.
“It’s much brighter now,” Ecker said. “The paper is much more supple now, so it’s really vastly improved, and it’s much easier to exhibit and for people to appreciate. That was a big undertaking, and important in the field of conservation preservation.”
Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Jeddah exhibition explores faith by juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures.
The event has built on the success of the first biennale, and is bigger in scale and ambition, Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the foundation, told Arab News.
This year, more than 30 cultural institutions have provided objects from their collections, as well as 29 newly commissioned works of art.
“The biennale is rooted in Saudi Arabia and has become a clear landmark on the international stage as well. We are excited to share this exhibition with audiences from near and far,” Al-Bakree added.
Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations.
The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 attracted more than 600,000 visitors. The 2025 edition will feature more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world.
The 2025 curatorial team is led by Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Saudi artist Muhannad Shono as curator of contemporary art.
The Islamic Arts Biennale will run until May 25.
Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer wows fans in Riyadh
RIYADH: Renowned composer Hans Zimmer performed on Friday at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Saudi Arabia as part of the Riyadh Season events.
The Oscar-winning composer performed a selection of compositions from films such as “Dune,” “Wonder Woman,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Interstellar,” “The Lion King” and “No Time to Die.”
The music was accompanied by interactive visual projections and stage effects that complemented the performance and highlighted its theme.
The concert, which sold out immediately on ticket release, concluded with enthusiastic applause, marking a memorable highlight of the Riyadh Season.
Zimmer expressed his gratitude to the Riyadh Season audience in a recorded message at the end of the concert, thanking them for their enthusiasm and energy.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, revealed this week that the composer is working on a new interpretation of Saudi Arabia’s national anthem.
The post continued that the German composer was also offered the chance to create the soundtrack for the upcoming Saudi Arabia film, “The Battle of Yarmouk.”
Zimmer attended the Kingdom’s Joy Awards on Jan. 18, which honors the achievements of artists in the Arab world.
Gwen Stefani to perform in the UAE in February
DUBAI: US pop star Gwen Stefani is set to perform in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 21 as part of the city’s Saadiyat Nights, marking her first-ever performance in the UAE capital.
The triple Grammy Award winner will take the stage just 24 hours before legendary US singer Lionel Richie closes the event on Feb. 22.
The three-month open-air music series will also feature performances by Egyptian composer Omar Khairat on Feb. 1, British musician Sting on Feb. 3, Lebanese music icon Magida El-Roumi on Feb. 10 and US pop star Christina Aguilera on Feb. 15.
Artists who have already performed include Grammy-winning Michael Buble, Russian band Leningrad, US R&B group Boyz II Men, British singer Robbie Williams and Iranian singer Ebi.
Stefani has achieved global recognition as a songwriter, performer, and frontwoman of the US rock band No Doubt, and as a multi-platinum solo artist. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous awards, including four MTV Video Music Awards, two Billboard Awards, an American Music Award and a Brit Award.
Stefani has sold over 60 million records worldwide, combining her success with No Doubt and her solo career. Her 2004 debut solo album, “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.,” achieved multi-platinum status and included chart-topping hits like “Hollaback Girl,” which became the first digital download to sell over 1 million copies in the US.
Stefani is no stranger to Emirati culture. In 2019, she performed in Dubai at the Dubai World Cup. During her visit, the singer immersed herself in Emirati culture, embracing the quintessential tourist experience by taking a desert safari, dining in a desert tent, watching a falcon show, riding a camel, covering her face and hair with a headscarf, shopping at the perfume souk, and visiting the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Saadiyat Nights is part of the Abu Dhabi Calendar’s year-round schedule of events, which includes music, sports, comedy, family-friendly shows, cultural festivals and art exhibitions.
Held on Saadiyat Island, the concert series is set against the backdrop of the Saadiyat Cultural District, pristine beaches, and luxurious resorts.
The inaugural edition of Saadiyat Nights, which ran from January to March 2024, featured a lineup of artists, including American stars Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Alicia Keys, Iranian singer Googoosh, and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Princess Iman of Jordan is expecting her first child
DUBAI: Jordan’s Princess Iman bint Abdullah II and her husband, Jameel Alexander Thermiotis, are expecting their first child.
Queen Rania, the princess’s mother, shared the news on Instagram with a photo of the couple at sunset by the beach, highlighting the mother-to-be’s baby bump. “Two is a couple, three is a blessing,” the Queen captioned the image.
This will be the second grandchild for Queen Rania and King Abdullah II. Their first grandchild, born in August, is the daughter of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein. She was named Iman in honor of her aunt.
