Background:

This Conference was held at Ibn Khaldūn Center for Development Studies in the event of the second conference on minorities. Several speeches were given especially on the Copt’s rights in Egypt and related to the Muslim Christian incident of 1996 in Kafr Dimyān (Delta) and the terrorist attack inʿIzbatAqbāṭ, Assyut.

*For more information on the Ibn Khaldūn conference, please refer to the tapes: Conference Ibn Khaldūn on Copts rights I, II, IV, V and VI

http://arabwestreport.info/en/conference-ibn-khald%C5%ABn-copts-rights-i

http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/conference-ibn-khald%C5%ABn-copts-rights-ii-0

http://arabwestreport.info/en/conference-ibn-khald%C5%ABn-copts-rights-iv 

http://arabwestreport.info/en/conference-ibn-khald%C5%ABn-copts-rights-v 

http://arabwestreport.info/en/conference-ibn-khald%C5%ABn-copts-rights-vi 

Side A:

The first speech is the second part of Dr. Sa‘d al-DīnʾĪbrāhīm’s speech, founder of the Ibn Khaldūn Center for Development Studies (for more information, please refer to tape 2). He explained the four types of hākimiyya [divine governance of Allah]. He insisted on the urged need to review the Islamic intellectual heritage with a new vision and not through the way adopted by the current Islamic movement.

The speech is followed by several comments by attendees for instance Dr. Sa'īd Al-Najār criticized the fact that the focus during the conference is more on the symptoms and not on the roots of the problem that, according to him, has to do with the personal status law that weakens the essence of the nation state.

Side B:

Mr. Abdel Latīf (attendee) gave an interpretation of the verse from the Qur’ān “O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another.” (Sura 5:51). And explained the situation in which this verse was written.

Mr. Samir (attendee) made several comments on the Copts living abroad and their genuine belonging and dedication to Egypt as well on the last legislative elections back then that witnessed a lack of Christians’ representatives.

Mr. Tāriq Khatir (attendee) explained that the way the problems are explored by focusing on the distinction between Christians and Muslims is not useful. He added that there is a need to explore such issues as they concern the whole society.

Dr. Hasan ʿĪssa (attendee) talked about the need of a new law project that would guarantee justice at work. As for Mr. Wajyh Khatir, he demonstrated the need to examine the issues from a political point of view as he explored briefly the history of extremism since the seventies.

Reverend Ulfat Makram Nagīb (attendee) insisted on the need to explore the concept of religion as an inspiration for morals and not as a source of jurisprudence.