A priest who directs the Jesuit Cultural Center in Alexandria, Egypt, harshly criticized Western support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt during a visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, in early June. Henri Boulad, S.J., 82, a Melkite Catholic, singled out the United States, France and Britain for their support of the Islamist group, which he said has created a regime far worse than the military dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak that preceded it, and warned of looming catastrophe. “How democratic countries can support such movements is disgusting,” Father Boulad told a meeting of the Middle East Discussion Group. The Jesuit described Egypt as unstable and said that the government is running out of money to provide basic services. Forces comprised of a wide array of thinkers, journalists, youth, Christians and a large number of Muslims who oppose the aims of the Muslim Brotherhood are rallying to challenge the regime, he said.

This article appears in July 1-8 2013.