Within Egyptian society the 'reconciliation session' has become a frequently used tool for solving disputes, but has also become increasingly controversial for failing to restore community harmony, contrary to its idealistic title. The reconciliation session is a traditional Egyptian mechanism for conflict resolution outside the context of the judiciary system, and aims to involve mediation in order to reach mutual agreement between opposing parties. Results, however, have been mixed, if not decidedly negative. While many Copts criticize these sessions as being utilized by the state to cover over sectarian issues, allowing the perpetrators of crimes to go free, other voices have also noticed the lack of success in restoring peace after conflict. While following an agreement after a reconciliation session there are pictures of smiling faces and enthusiastic embraces, in many cases it is reported that an underlying tension remains in the area.
Rochelle Curtis has undertaken a study of all media reports in the Arab West Report database which mention the word reconciliation. She has categorized these into seventeen cases, exploring in each one the root causes, the conflicting parties, the injuries suffered and damages inflicted, the major actors, the reconciliation efforts, and the end result. While in some cases the reconciliation sessions resulted in positive developments, in many others there was a noticeable lack of success, despite official pronouncements.
By focusing on the media reports this paper is able to attach each fact or development to the newspaper which reported it. Following a chronological reporting pattern the reader is able to easily follow along with the events and notice the patterns which emerge in the practice of conducting reconciliation sessions, though the geographical setting varies widely. The paper closes with several observations which should be considered in any future analysis of reconciliation sessions and the reporting thereof.
