What is relationship like between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Cairo?
Are there still Jews living there? Fathy Salama: There are some Jewish people but a very small number. Many of them left during Nasser’s time. The Christians and Muslims get along well. However, although a Muslim can marry a Christian woman, a Muslim woman can not marry a Christian man. Sean Barlow: With everything going on in Iraq and rising tensions in the world, how are Americans seen in Cairo? Fathy Salama: It’s interesting because I used to have an American saxophone player with me and it wasn’t a problem at all. For sure, people are totally against America as the policy of America in the Middle East–totally–but they are not really against Americans as people. They are against the policy itself. They will ask you what you think of what Bush is doing, and if you agree with it than they will not like you for sure because they do not like the idea. But if you don’t agree with it, there is no problem at all. People are very open. To discuss Youssou and Fathy’s new CD Egypt, link her
