The escalation of Muslim attacks on Christian churches in Egypt continues unabated. This week two attacks were carried out, one in Alexandria and one in Menbal in Upper Egypt -- both allegedly prompted by harassment of Muslim women.

Egypt is suffering its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a former finance minister of the country and one of its leading economists have warned.

In terms of its devastating effect on Egypt's poorest, the country's current economic predicament is at its most dire since the 1930s, Galal Amin, professor of economics at the American University in Cairo, and Samir Radwan, finance minister in the months after Egypt's 2011 uprising, said in separate interviews with the Guardian.

Dr. Mohamed Mounir Meghaed, coordinator for Egyptians Against Religious Discrimination (MARED), said that the Muslim Brotherhood uses religious defamation accusations as a way to terrorize religious minorities in Egypt.

He added that the law is used against ordinary citizens but not public figures. “The judiciary is not separate from society so it can adopt double standards regarding these cases,” he stated.

“President Mohamed Morsi is not a president of all Egyptians as he claims, rather he is the Brotherhood’s representative in the presidency.”

The latest public opinion poll conducted by The Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) revealed that Egyptians have continued to show dissatisfaction with President Morsy’s job. The approval rating has hit a record low, with only 46 percent of Egyptians saying they think he has performed well, slightly lower than the percentage observed in the last month poll, which reached 47%. This approval rating is much far behind the percentage he earned after the first hundred days, when 78% of Egyptians said they approved of his performance.  ]

http://baseera.com.eg/baseera/pdf_poll_file_en/Pres10%20Month-En.pdf

Why are Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Christians one of the most oppressed minorities in the world? Author Ramy Tadros investigates this question, among many others, in his new book, "The War of the Words: Oppression, Egypt's Copts, and the State".

Sydney, Australia

Eyes blazing, body tensing, mood darkening – he leans across the table and voices his worries: "No one cares. No one is listening. No one is helping the Coptic Orthodox Christians living in Egypt." He then slumps in his seat and surveys his surroundings.