Sarah El Masry

56 Articles

sarahmohy@aucegypt.edu

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Latest by Sarah El Masry

ATR 3470

Egypt’s new constitution: A comparative overview

On Sunday, 1 December, Egypt’s Constituent Assembly finished its task to amend the suspended constitution of 2012. The assembly handed over the draft to interim President Adly Mansour, who will in turn put it up for a public referendum in the upcoming weeks. Though praised and supported by its drafters, commentators and public figures, many voices are raising concerns regarding Egypt’s second constitution after 25 January. The Daily News Egypt now reviews some of the new constitutional amendments and compares them to the articles of the 2012 constitution.

Sarah El Masry
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Constitutional amendments: Repeating past mistakes?

Parallel to the ongoing political turmoil, the country is having its second constitutional debate. The amendments have been criticised heavily and they will be handed over to the constituent assembly that was formed this week. Daily News Egypt reviews the amendments and the criticism of them.

Sarah El Masry
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Where is Egypt heading?

Today Egypt stands mired in a political conflict so dire and complex that the country’s future is hard to forecast. Egypt, once hailed as a beacon of democratic hope for other countries associated with the so-called Arab Spring, is more consumed with calming political infighting following the ouster of its first elected president. In an attempt to understand where Egypt is heading, political analysts offered explanations and lessons from the history of countries such as Algeria. The Daily News Egypt explores these scenarios and their feasibility for Egypt.

Sarah El Masry
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Polarised, politicised and biased: Covering Egypt

In Egypt’s dire political situation, one of the most important ways to understand the complexities of the situation is the media; supposedly the institution that seeks to find the truth and present it to its audience. However, in Egypt’s case, much of the local media is polarised, politicised and biased, and international media as well does not serve as an alternative for objective reporting due to the many challenges it faces. The Daily News Egypt reviews the positions of local and international media coverage of Egypt’s latest events, and the different narratives that are presented.

Sarah El Masry
Front Page

Ramadan’s drama series infused with politics

Every year dozens of drama series and soap operas are produced in Ramadan. While politics have always found their way into these series, the January 25th Revolution has taken this politicisation to a new level. The Daily News Egypt reviews the themes portrayed in drama series of this year’s Ramadan, how the political conflict is represented and what narratives are propagated.

Sarah El Masry
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Smoke and mirrors: Smuggled cigarettes

There’s no doubt that smoking is a detrimental practice; no matter how light some cigarettes are, they still do harm to the body. Yet in Egypt, about 40% of adult men and 8% of adult women are smokers, and since 25 January, access to cigarettes has only increased, as new brands have entered the Egyptian market illegally and are sold at cheaper prices. The Daily News Egypt looks into the issue of smuggled cigarettes and their additional harmful impact on smokers.

Sarah El Masry
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Ramadan: A spiritual journey

In the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims across the world fast for the holy month of Ramadan. Although the observance of this month can be hectic and less productive for some, it undoubtedly boosts spirituality and reminds Muslims of some of the core values of Islam: honesty, charity and purification. The Daily News Egypt takes you through a journey to discover Ramadan’s rituals and spiritual aims.

Sarah El Masry
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A solution for Egypt’s fuel crisis?

The recurring petrol and diesel crises have left Egypt’s streets paralysed and the people angry. Despite the continuity of the diesel crisis throughout the past months, the petrol crisis is primarily affecting Egyptians from middle and upper classes, a phenomenon unprecedented on the current scale. The government has promised the crisis will end once the new smartcard system is in effect. The Daily News Egypt reviews the new system and asks people about the system’s feasibility and convenience to their needs.

Sarah El Masry
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Egypt’s right to information law

Ninety-three countries worldwide have passed right to information (RTI) laws. Among Arab countries, Jordan was the first to take the initiative in 2007, followed by Tunisia in 2011 after the Jasmine revolution, and Yemen in 2012. Now it is Egypt’s turn to pass its right to information law in an attempt to improve economic conditions for investments, establish a system of accountability and fight a long legacy of corruption deeply embedded in the Egyptian state. However, two years after the revolution, the country is still struggling with its draft of an RTI law, mainly due to the implicit resilience and restrictions different parts of the Egyptian government are imposing in the drafting process. The Daily News Egypt untangles the debate around the RTI draft, examines the main issues of the draft and what benefits it may bring to Egypt if it were to be passed.

Sarah El Masry
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On the social stigma of divorce

The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) issued a report on 19 May that revealed the number of formal divorce cases from 2011 to 2012 had risen from 151,900 to 155,300 cases. Despite its increasing prevalence, divorce still evokes social stigma for women that differs depending on their socio-economic level. This stigma is said to be shifting in certain classes. Women shared their stories with Daily News Egypt on how the stigma of their divorce has affected their lives.

Sarah El Masry
Front Page

Egypt: The question of the environment

On the occasion of World Environment Day (WED), Daily New Egypt examines the status of environmental rights in Egypt, the main environmental challenges, and the government’s strategies regarding the environment.

Sarah El Masry
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The struggle: Egyptians obtaining foreign visas

It is summer time in Egypt, a season when many Egyptians prepare to travel abroad for a myriad of reasons, whether for tourism, business or studying. However, it is a struggle for many of them to get visas to certain destinations, including the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. Daily News Egypt explores the stories of some Egyptians and the problems they faced when dealing with foreign embassies.

Sarah El Masry
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The “Japan” of Egypt in crisis

Damietta is one of Egypt’s most productive cities, and is considered the “Japan” of Egypt. The city, however, has been affected by the harsh recession that hit the nation’s economy. Prices of raw materials increased, and caused micro and small enterprises to shut down, leaving behind angry artisans and craftsmen. The Daily News Egypt visits Damietta’s high season of furniture sale to investigate how the business has been affected.

Sarah El Masry
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Egypt’s railways: past, present and future?

Egypt has a long history of railway accidents. Over the past 20 years more than 1,500 people have lost their lives to train collisions and derailments. The disastrous situation of the railway system continued since the 25 January uprisings with new victims. The Daily News Egypt explores the reasons for the recurring accidents and speaks to top managers from the Egyptian National Railways and workers close to the problems.

Sarah El Masry
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Fighting against repression: The labour movement

The downfall of Hosni Mubarak’s was realised in part thanks to Egypt’s labour movement. Despite this pivotal role, under the new regime, the status of workers has not changed much due because of political and economic forces. The new regime seems to be following Mubarak’s footsteps in handling the workers’ activism through security repression and unfair laws. The labour movement is being challenged daily; however workers are refusing to give up.

Sarah El Masry
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My religion is “none of your business”: Campaigning against division

Following sectarian strife that hit Egypt a few weeks ago, a group of young activists initiated the “none of your business” online campaign against division and sectarianism. The campaign is calling for concealing religious affiliation on national identity cards, stirring controversy and debate in different media outlets. Daily News Egypt speaks to the campaign’s organisers, supporters and opposition.

Sarah El Masry
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The story of Om Hamada

Like every day, she wakes up at the break of dawn. Sending her children off to school, she heads off to her new job in the city of Zagazig, the capital of Sharqeya governorate.

Sarah El Masry
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A daunting mission: Getting back Egypt’s stolen assets

Over the course of Hosni Mubarak’s rule, the illicit outflow of funds from Egypt are estimated at $132bn. After the January 2011 Revolution, countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom have been asked to freeze and repatriate Egypt’s stolen wealth. However, many legal, political and financial hindrances stand in the way. Daily News Egypt examines these hurdles and the efforts the Egyptian and foreign governments have exerted in order to recover these lost assets.

Sarah El Masry
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A polarised media: Religious satellite TV channels

In a deeply polarised media climate, Egyptians must choose between secular or religious satellite TV channels. Religious channels are a widely used source of information for social and personal issues, but have also been accused of broadcasting political agendas, inciting sectarianism, and spreading hate speech. The Daily News Egypt explores the topic of religious TV channels, and speaks to people on both sides of the debate.

Sarah El Masry
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The coverage of violence against women

Egyptian women experience various forms of discrimination in public and private life. One of the biggest results of discrimination is violence. Although the media condemns violence and raises awareness about its enormity in some outlets, it has been accused of accidently perpetuating violence as well. Daily News Egypt investigates how violence against Egyptian women is covered in both printed and televised media.

Sarah El Masry
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Al-Azhar of post-revolutionary Egypt

Al-Azhar recently issued a document renouncing violence as an attempt to pacify angry protestors and unify opposition forces under its umbrella. In light of this document, the newly passed constitution, the amendments of Al-Azhar’s regulatory law and the appointment of a new Grand Mufti, the Daily News Egypt investigates the features of Al-Azhar’s role in the politics and public life of post-revolutionary Egypt.

Sarah El Masry
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A paralysed city: The diesel fuel crisis

Though it is not the first time a gas or diesel shortage has plagued Cairo and several other governorates, the recent crisis in Egypt has left the capital city paralysed due to a major strike organised by microbus drivers. It seems these strikes by transport drivers are much larger than they have been in the past. Daily News Egypt investigates the mounting diesel fuel problems in the country, looking at how they are affecting ordinary citizens and what the government is doing in response.

Sarah El Masry
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Where corruption thrives: Public universities in Egypt

Public universities in Egypt are institutions with multi-layered corruption from sexual harassment to nepotism. The Daily News Egypt was intrigued by a recent corruption case in Ain Shams University to look into the different forms of corruption directed at students at public universities. Students recount their experiences with corruption and what they think the solutions are.

Sarah El Masry
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Two years after the revolution: how our families changed

Many are hesitant about terming what happened in Egypt on 25 January 2011 a “revolution”. Their justification is that a revolution must break away from the past socially, politically and economically to create a new status quo. And this is not the case in Egypt. Yet. Egypt is undergoing political and economic change, but many people claim that socially nothing changed, at least positively. While it might take years to fully examine the changes in social and familial attitudes and behaviours, it is hard to turn a blind eye to the changes that have already occurred two years after 25 January 2011. Daily News Egypt speaks Egyptians and their families who have experienced changes that would not have occurred without the “revolution”.

Sarah El Masry