Podcast: Dr Harry Hagopian discusses situation in Egypt
President Hosni Mubarak, leader of the National Democratic Party and ruler for the past 30 years, has stepped down. In an extended Middle East Analysis, international lawyer and Middle East Consultant to the Catholic Bishops' Conference Dr Harry Hagopian discusses the recent uprising in Egypt and its impact on the region.
Dr Harry Hagopian said: "This is really an epic moment for the whole Middle East North Africa region, and I don't think many people realise that, after a century of basically quiet submission to the will of the regimes in those countries, suddenly it seems like the people have woken up. Things are moving so fast that the term 'breaking news' which we constantly see on our TV channels for once applies, because it really is breaking news every minute every day. The initial spark that set off this whole movement I think began with Tunisia in early January when a street vendor, Mohammed Bouazizi, set himself on fire..."
Dr Hagopian talks about:
* the origins of the events
* the interplay between religion and politics
* where the region is going
* challenges for the Coptic Christians and local Christian communities
* what next for the region
Listen to the Podcast: www.catholicchurch.org.uk/egypt-post-uprising
Dr Harry Hagopian's website: www.epektasis.net/