Latest in Opinion Highlight
Latest in Opinion
The whole truth and nothing but the truth
On 8 March, I was in London attending a panel discussion on the safety of women journalists. I had been invited there by the International News Safety Institute (INSI) after contributing a chapter to a book published earlier this year by the INSI on the safety of female journalists working in conflict and danger zones. …
Review: columnists observe Morsy’s attitude, IMF loan, and Coptic community
Egyptian opinion writers have explored a variety of topics that relate to President Morsy’s surprising moves, starting from his first trip to Saudi, to his latest in Iran. Many columnists continue to dissect Egypt’s internal platform with regards to the growing fears of the Coptic community in the country. Others criticise the acceptance of the …
Clinical death
As the world’s media have rushed to compete on the wave of rapid developments sweeping across the globe, Egypt’s state media focuses on a different story. The Maspero building – with its entire internal and external staff – keep drowning in deep and unchartered waters of corruption, misconduct and a performance far away from the …
Review: usual flak for Morsy and Constitutent Assembly, US and salafist sheikh take a dose too
In today’s column review Morsy comes in for his usual dose of criticism from the pundits, as does Salafist Sheikh Wagdy Ghoneim. In terms of domestic politics, proportional electoral lists and the draft constitution are considered, while on the international front US funding of Egypt is examined. Amr Al-Shobaki The catastrophe of the proportional …
Does the Brotherhood have the right to “Ikwanise” the state?
We face now worrying bids to change the state, not the government
Brutal popcorn
Our police force either sits idly by or gets up and beats the heck out of us
Ten Tips to the Dostour Party
In an attempt to be positive, here are 10 tips to help Al Dostour Party avoid repeating the same mistakes that all of the previous parties did.
Review: columnists condemn division of Liberal bloc
Major opinion pieces in Egyptian newspapers have debated a variety of topics that relate to Egyptian politics. Most importantly, most commentators have condemned the division and separation hitting the landscape of the secular power in Egypt. The success of the Muslim Brotherhood and the popularity of political Islam in Egypt has led many writers to …
Thou Shall Fear Salafis
Next time you read one on Salafis, read it with a grain of salt
The Other Side: Fish, milk… human rights
We are talking about an important human rights council whose members may be figures with political and religious influence, but this does not mean that they are qualified to be members of such an institution
Review: columnists debate Egypt Air strikes, sexual harassment and liberals’ unity
Opinion writers in different Egyptian newspapers have discussed an assortment of topics. Some of them have tapped upon the deceptive commonly used statement “the revolution has been stolen,” claiming that some political forces merely use the statement to cover up for their division and disorganisation. Some other commentators have written about the recent strikes in …
The Day the Music Died!
The real threat comes from a society that refuses to accept individuals who reject its norms and values
A pointless piece of cloth debate
Few hours after Fatma Nabil has read the 12 o’clock news bulletin in her full cream-colored veil, the Egyptian media sphere has quivered with endless controversial discussions on the extent to which the entire country is deliberately being ‘Ikhwanised’. Being the first Egyptian female newsreader ever to appear on Egypt’s state television, the move assuredly …
Review: Columnists debate emergency law, Coptic community and Tahrir Square
Across different Egyptian newspapers, columnists have tapped upon various issues that relate to Mohamed Morsy’s rule. Some writers have condemned the debate over female circumcision; others criticise proposals of the new Justice Minister to reinstate the long-lived emergency law. On another note, some commentators discussed how the deteriorating Tahrir Square is calling upon Egyptians to …
Syrian blood dripping through our fingers
Leaving crazed killers to roam freely is blood on our hands, and more blood will be shed as we sit and speak and negotiate politics.
Just make it look good!
There are new parties and coalitions and currents being formed every day, but one has to wonder if it will lead to anything tangible or real this time around
Morsy a catalyst for a new global political system?
The current international political system is the result of dominant power relations between the biggest nations and also the smaller ones. The way the UN is managed, global trade is conducted, and security issues are settled are all created by man, as is the UN veto system. Therefore, they are not everlasting, unquestionable formalities and …
In what direction are Egyptian-Iranian relations heading?
Iran needs Egypt in its confrontation with the west. At the very least it needs it to be neutral.
Where the shoe pinches
By Mohammed Ali Ibrahim the former editor in chief of both The Egyptian Gazette and Algoumhoria newspapers In 1928, Muslim Brotherhood founder, Hassan Al-Banna, adopted an approach to critics and skeptics which his followers and loyalists still adhere to today. His method was to shun reasonable argument or debate, opting instead for criticism and shouting …
Iran, emergency law, Shafiq’s flight and Morsy’s performance
The prospect of the return of the hated emergency law, issues surrounding scientific research in Egypt and more specifically the Zewail City and Nile University projects, Shafiq’s flight and Morsy’s performance; these are the domestic issues concerning columnists. Further afield, Morsy’s recent trip to Tehran continues to attract the attention of columnists, most who think …
Okasha: a mere political amusement
The news that the trial of Tawfik Okasha, the controversial media figure and owner of Al Fara’een TV station, has been adjourned to 3 October tempts one to conjecture the initial reasons behind having a satellite channel as such. Particularly flourishing after the revolution, Okasha, who no one had ever heard about before, has suddenly …
Review: Columnists touch upon state media and political participation
Egyptian commentaries have explored an assortment of subjects. Many have continued to analyze the rising wave of political Islam, whereas others have addressed the challenges facing Egypt’s state media and the lack of interest in active political participation. Wael Kandil The legend of the last Minister of Media Al-Shorouk newspaper The status of Egypt’s …
Is Morsy pivoting eastwards?
Last week was quite eventful for our illustrious president. From his visit to China to his presence in the Non- Aligned Movement’s (NAM) summit, Morsy’s political clout has been progressively expanding as he strives to reinvigorate the image of Egypt, the leader of the Arab world. Since his ascent to power, Morsy has confidently taken …
The Social Media Illusion
The demonstrations of August 24 did not turn out to be politically significant, especially after major political forces decided to abandon them. The demonstrations were controlled by individuals who possess no experience in mobilizing for collective action and lack credibility within Egyptian political life. However, these demonstrations brought to the scene two valuable lessons, first, …
Review: Columnists analyse Morsy’s meetings in China and Iran
After President Mohamed Morsy’s two last visits to China and Iran, columnists across Egyptian newspapers analyze his speech at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Tehran and the new Chinese grant. Some praised Morsy’s early steps towards a new page of Egyptian international relations, others see that his trips, especially that to Iran, will add to …
Editor’s letter: The fading of moral references
While riding home in a taxi one night last week, a small truck packed with five or more young men in their early twenties was driving in front of us. The exuberant-looking group seemed to be cruising the city while enjoying dinner in the back of their truck. All of a sudden, after they had …
IMF lifeline, a test for Morsy
For many Egyptians, life was tough under the former regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Now it’s even tougher and things are likely to get worse before they get better
Morsy’s “balanced” foreign policy
By Alya Essam As Mohamed Morsy commences his three-day trip to China, which will be followed by a five-hour visit to Tehran, the president comes to introduce himself to world wide leaders, striving to hint at new approaches with countries that Mubarak had cut back relations with. “International relations between all states are open and …
Accepting the IMF Loan: an Exception or Economic Policy?
Logically speaking, a more transparent treatment of the loan deal would have allowed for a general discussion on all of the deal’s implications on the public realm
Review: Sinai, Morsy’s independence and liberal powers
Although President Morsy has commenced his first trip to China, which will be followed by a unique trip to Iran, most columnists across Egyptian newspapers have not touched upon the presidential trips. Opinion writers commented on the importance of Morsy’s independence from his Islamist group and some have warned against possible occurrences of violence and …