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Christian Man Imprisoned, Hung in Crucifixion Position for Converting to Christianity in Egypt

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The trial of an Egyptian Christian man imprisoned on charges related to his conversion from Islam and his attempt to change his religious designation on identity papers opened last week in Cairo.

Said Mansour Rezk Abdelrazek was arrested in July under “terrorism” related charges. Apostasy is not illegal in Egypt, but changing the religious designation on official identity documents is practically impossible and leaves converts open to prosecution as a “national security threat.”

Prosecutors brought multiple charges against Abdelrazek, according to advocacy group Coptic Solidarity, including establishing and leading a group in violation of the law; joining a group that was allegedly founded unlawfully; financing the group; promoting ideas and beliefs deemed “harmful to national unity and social peace,” and showing contempt for Islam and challenging its fundamental principles.

Abdelrazek’s legal team on April 21 submitted several key motions, including requests to adjourn the proceedings in order to prepare a full defense, according to Coptic Solidarity. The court granted the adjournment and scheduled the next hearing for June 15.

Abdelrazek has been held in Cairo’s 10th of Ramadan Prison, where he has reportedly been deprived of basic necessities, including adequate food, clothing and medical care and hung in a “crucifixion” position. (Read more from “Christian Man Imprisoned, Hung in Crucifixion Position for Converting to Christianity in Egypt” HERE)

World’s First Reference to Christ Discovered on 2,000-Year-Old ‘Jesus Cup’

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A ceramic bowl discovered off the coast of Egypt may contain the world’s first reference to Christ.

The so-called ‘Jesus Cup’ was unearthed in 2008 by a team led by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio during an excavation of Alexandria’s ancient great harbor.

Remarkably well preserved, the bowl is missing only a handle and bears a Greek inscription: DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS, translated as ‘Through Christ the chanter.’

Dr Jeremiah Johnston, a New Testament scholar, explained on a recent Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) segment that the artifact dates to the first century AD, the era when Jesus was crucified.

‘Jesus’ reputation was that he was a healer, miracle worker, and exorcist,’ Johnston said. ‘This Jesus Cup gives evidence to that legacy.’

Goddio suggested the inscription may have been intended to legitimize soothsaying rituals. The bowl closely resembles those depicted on early Egyptian statuettes, showing fortune-telling ceremonies. (Read more from “World’s First Reference to Christ Discovered on 2,000-Year-Old ‘Jesus Cup'” HERE)

Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks Sets Off a Wave of Anger in Egypt

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Egypt has strongly denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ vision, which implies expanding Israel’s territories from the Nile to the Euphrates rivers.

In a statement late on Wednesday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Netanyahu’s remarks undermine regional stability and reflect a policy direction opposed to peace, one that aims for escalation.

“This contradicts the aspirations of regional and international parties that crave peace and want to achieve security and stability for all regional peoples,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

“Egypt is keen on laying the foundations of peace in the Middle East,” it added.

Netanyahu stirred up major debates in Egypt after divulging his attachment to the controversial vision. During an interview with the Israeli television channel i24 late on Tuesday, the far-right premier said he feels he is on a “historic and spiritual mission” to fulfill this vision. (Read more from “Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks Sets Off a Wave of Anger in Egypt” HERE)

Egypt Closes World’s Oldest Continuously Functioning Christian Monastery Founded 15 Centuries Ago: ‘Unprecedented and Unacceptable!’

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Egypt has ordered the closure of the world’s oldest continuously functioning Christian monastery, much to the fury of Christian groups.

The Egyptian government has decided to shut down Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sina and expel the 20 Greek Orthodox monks serving there.

The monastery was founded by Byzantine Emperor Justinian 15 centuries ago and has been described as “the world’s oldest Orthodox Christian monument”.

Despite surviving numerous historical upheavals throughout its existence, the sacred site now faces what Orthodox Archbishop Ieronymos II called “a period of great trial—one that evokes memories of darker times in history”.

The decision has been characterised as “unprecedented and unacceptable” by religious leaders. (Read more from “Egypt Closes World’s Oldest Continuously Functioning Christian Monastery Founded 15 Centuries Ago: ‘Unprecedented and Unacceptable!’” HERE)

DOGE’s Work Is Meaningless Unless Republicans Get Serious About Cutting Spending

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The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made commendable progress in identifying areas of waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the federal government. But failure by congressional Republicans to codify cuts to these items and other wasteful spending into law threatens to jeopardize the watchdog group’s success.

Amid the backdrop of DOGE’s fraud-finding expedition are ongoing negotiations among House and Senate Republicans to pass a budget reconciliation package that includes President Trump’s legislative priorities, such as tax cuts and resources for border enforcement. As defined by Ballotpedia’s Briana Ryan, “Budget reconciliation is a term for the legislative process that bypasses the [60-vote] filibuster to approve a package of legislation in Congress that changes spending, revenues, or the debt limit.”

While many Republicans have been quick to glom onto DOGE and profess support for its work, few seem to be interested in actually stopping the wasteful spending that’s plagued the federal government for years. Case in point: the Senate GOP’s latest “vote-a-rama.”

In the early hours of Friday morning, the upper chamber held votes on various amendments to Senate Republicans’ $340 billion reconciliation bill. According to Breitbart News, the package — which included provisions aimed at “secur[ing] the southern border, unleash[ing] domestic energy production, [and] other priorities” — is one half of the Senate GOP’s “two-bill strategy” for reconciliation. . .

Among the amendments proposed for the Senate’s reconciliation package was a measure introduced by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., that sought to cut federal spending by $1.5 trillion. The Kentucky Republican noted that “Americans will pay dearly for Congress’s inability to say no to the welfare and warfare state,” and that continued reckless spending practices “will mean confiscatory tax rates, high inflation, rising interest rates, and a weak economy.” (Read more from “DOGE’s Work Is Meaningless Unless Republicans Get Serious About Cutting Spending” HERE)

USAID In Egypt Had Me Detained For Walking In And Asking If It’s Following Trump’s Orders

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For some years now, I have been tracking globalist initiatives at both ends: at the point where the ideological rounds are chambered and downrange where they affect the lives of millions as public policies. This has taken me from places like Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum meets annually, to cartel towns in Colombia where illegal aliens board Zodiacs bound for the Darién Gap and thousands of them simply disappear.

I’ve also been tracking how USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, via a series of NGOs, has been running what amounts to a massive human trafficking operation across South America, through Central America, and straight up through our borders. President Trump is working to hold accountable those responsible, but there is so much more to the global workings of this clandestine government agency.

I recently traveled from Davos to the ancient city on the Nile. With USAID’s nefarious activities dominating the news, I decided to visit its Cairo office to see how it was responding to Trump’s recent order slashing USAID activities.

To call USAID Egypt an office is misleading. It is a military-style compound.

My Egyptian driver, Mohamed, and I approached the boom gate where security guards stood in a small guardhouse of the type you see all over the world. They raised the gate arm and waved us through. (I’ve found that the key to entering government buildings, much like the World Economic Forum, is simply to walk in as if I own the place. More often than you might think, security just steps aside.) (Read more from “USAID In Egypt Had Me Detained For Walking In And Asking If It’s Following Trump’s Orders” HERE)

Trump’s ‘Bold’ Plan to Relocate Gazans to Jordan, Egypt Gains Support: ‘Only Real Way to Achieve Peace’

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Many are applauding President Donald Trump’s “bold” proposal that Egypt and Jordan play a central role in resolving the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict by absorbing refugees from war-torn Gaza, with some calling it the “only real way to achieve peace.”

On Saturday, President Donald Trump, who has previously brokered historic agreements in the region, suggested that Gaza could be cleared out after the devastation of the war started by Hamas on October 7, 2023, with Palestinians resettled in neighboring Arab nations for humanitarian reasons.

In a gaggle with reporters on Air Force One, Trump said:

I’d like Egypt to take people and I’d like Jordan to take people. You’re talking about probably a million and a half people and we just clean out that whole thing and say, “You know it’s — over the centuries, it’s had many, many conflicts. And … something has to happen.” It’s literally a demolition site … So I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace. … Could be temporary, could be long-term.

Egypt and Jordan’s participation in the initiative could bolster their regional influence and attract significant international support, with large-scale resettlement projects leading to the creation of jobs, upgrading of infrastructure, and stimulating economic growth. The plan also offers a path toward lasting stability for Palestinians and the region. (Read more from “Trump’s ‘Bold’ Plan to Relocate Gazans to Jordan, Egypt Gains Support: ‘Only Real Way to Achieve Peace’” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

White House Can’t Explain Why Egypt Is Blocking Aid to Gaza

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The White House has criticized Israel in the past for the slow pace of humanitarian aid delivery, as well as for recent attacks by right-wing activists on aid trucks, but struggled Wednesday to criticize Egypt for blocking aid to Gaza.

Egypt has been blocking the passage of aid trucks into Gaza ever since Israel seized control of the Rafah Crossing, on the Egyptian-Gaza border, last week. Egypt opposes Israel’s operation in Gaza to defeat the last Hamas battalions.

On Wednesday, Jake Turx, the White House correspondent for the Orthodox Jewish magazine Ami, asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to react to Egypt’s actions. Jean-Pierre appeared to dodge the question.

“We’re going to continue to have those diplomatic conversations,” Jean-Pierre said, without adding any additional commentary on the need for Egypt to help move humanitarian aid through the border crossing and into Gaza. (Read more from “White House Can’t Explain Why Egypt Is Blocking Aid to Gaza” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Christian Homes in Egypt Attacked and Burned by Islamist Extremists

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Islamist extremists reportedly set fire to several Christian houses and businesses in southern Egypt last week.

The violence broke out on Tuesday night in the village of Al-Fawakher, which is home to about 3,000 Christian families. The local Christian community had recently received a permit to construct a new church building, prompting backlash from some Muslim hardliners.

“The attacks are believed to have been triggered by an attempt to build a new church in Al-Fawakher village in Minya [province],” one local source, who asked to remain anonymous, told The New Arab. “When religious fanatics failed to expel Christians from their homes as a form of punishment, the extremists [reportedly] burned down their houses while they were still inside.”

Video circulating on social media appears to show crowds of people dancing and celebrating in front of the burning buildings. (Read more from “Christian Homes in Egypt Attacked and Burned by Islamist Extremists” HERE)

Journalist Found Dead After Exposing ‘Luxury Villa Owned by Zelenskyy’s Family’

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Egyptian investigative journalist Mohammed Al-Alawi, known for his exposé on the purchase of a luxury villa by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s mother-in-law, has been found dead.

The report, published by El Mostaqbal, details the discovery of Al-Alawi’s body in the Red Sea city of Hurghada, showing signs of fractures and bruises. The cause of death is reported as a cerebral hemorrhage resulting from a severe brain injury, with indications that the journalist had been subjected to a beating by a group of individuals.

Al-Alawi gained attention in August when he reported on the purchase of a $4.85 million villa in El-Gouna by Olga Kiyashko, Zelenskyy’s mother-in-law. The journalist leaked alleged documents as evidence, raising serious questions about corruption and the possible misappropriation of U.S. financial aid to Ukraine by the Zelenskyy family.

The Ukrainian embassy in Egypt has dismissed the allegations as “Russian propaganda,” while Orascom Development, the owner of the El Gouna resort, issued a statement categorically denying the reports. He claims the allegations are “completely false” despite Al-Alawi’s exposé.

Al-Alawi’s death has intensified concerns about the safety of investigative journalists and the challenges they face when exposing sensitive information. In a recent interview, the deceased journalist’s brother, Ahmed Al-Alawi, disclosed that Mohammed began receiving death threats after the release of his investigation. Ahmed also claimed that the police believe the assassination was carried out by Ukrainian operatives.

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