Stories about Egypt from July, 2009
Egypt: Fox News Creative Chaos
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia reacts to a mistake on Fox News, where Egypt is placed on a map instead of Iraq. Our Morocco author Jillian C York makes a similar observation here.
Hijablogging: On Burqas and Bans
Although the practice of wearing hijab has been around since pre-Islamic times, the debate surrounding it has increased in recent years. Whereas in some countries, hijab is mandated, in others, it has been banned in schools, workplaces, and sometimes altogether. But whether required or forbidden, Muslim women's dress is almost always a topic of hot debate.
Egypt: A Car Trade Social Service.
CarLog is a new online service for trading cars in Egypt that enables car owners to share photos, videos, and reviews of their vehicles on Facebook.
Egypt: “Fifty-seven years after the coup and we still are not able cope”
On the 57th anniversary of their revolution, Egyptians are still evaluating and debating how this historic event that started with the military coup d’etat has changed the their lives, and that of many future generations. Until today, bloggers continue to discuss and pinpoint the pros and the cons of the revolution, as well as the decisions of the Free Officers, who led the coup which turned Egypt from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.
Palestine: Egypt and Israel and Humanitarian Aid
Writing on Arab-American joint blog Kabobfest, Will notes his disgust with Egypt's stalling of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. “Though we have seen Egypt’s role as essentially Israel’s sidekick before, the machinations around the Viva Palestine really exemplify how much it shares Israel’s sick agenda of collective punishment in Gaza,” he...
Egypt: 77 Egyptian Prisoners in Israeli Jails
On Twitter, Egyptian blogger Noha Atef [ar] notes: “I didn't know that there were 77 Egyptian prisoners in Israeli jails!! 41 of them are held on criminal charges, meaning smuggling and illegal entry.”
Egypt: What's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander
When Marwa El Sherbini was shot dead in a German court Facebook users and the Egyptian blogosphere mourned her as the victim of the veil, the victim of racism, and the victim of her beliefs. But when a heap of bones wrapped up in a blanket named Ibrahim El Sayed Ibrahim was shipped back to Egypt from Libya - no one lifted a finger in his defense.
Egyptian Women and a Fresh Outlook on Divorce
Divorce has always been a stigma in the Egyptian society. Today, the winds of change are blowing this away. In this post, Marwa Rakha follows conversations on Egyptian blogs which show what is being done to right a wrong situation.
Egypt: Mounir Said Hanna found guilty of “Satire”
Egyptian Mounir Said Hanna Marzuq has been found guilty of "satire" after a colleague reported him and his poem to the authorities. He has been sentenced to three years and was fined L.E. 100,000 for insulting president Hosni Mubarak. Marwa Rakha sums up reactions from Egyptian bloggers here.
Egypt: The Egyptian Apostate
Egyptian progressive thinker, Dr. Sayed El Qemany was granted the State Award for Social Sciences. Egyptian liberals and seculars hailed the award while Wahabis and conservatives declared war on the “Egyptian Apostate”. Marwa Rakha reports from the Egyptian blogosphere.
Egypt: Doctors without masks
Egyptian Leftist [Ar] describes the paranoia gripping people over swine flu or H1N1 and bird flu. The blogger, who has been to three hospitals, notes: “Despite the horror spread in the country over swine and bird flu, none of the doctors I saw was wearing a mask or gloves.”
UAE: Marwa's Mainstream Media Fail
Dubai's Fake Plastic Souks describes the coverage following the murder of Egyptian Marwa El Sherbiny in a German courthouse as a “mainstream media fail.” “So, once again, we have news that travelled around Twitter, Facebook and blogs, the social media I talk so much about, but that was not considered...
Egypt: Qaradawi's Jihad Book
Marc Lynch discusses Sunni Islamic scholar Yusuf Al Qaradawi's latest book The Jurisprudence of Jihad in this post. “Qaradawi's intervention has thus far received no attention at all in the English-language media. It should, because of his vast influence and his long track record as an accurate barometer of mainstream...
Arab World: Swine Flu Fever Continues
Swine flu or H1N1 is still making headlines across the Arab world as new cases continue to be discovered by health authorities and announced in the Press on a daily basis. Here's a preview of what bloggers in Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt and Syria are talking about.
Jordan: Why was Marwa killed?
Jordanian Naseem Tarawnah discusses the recent murder of Egyptian Marwa El-Sherbini, 32, in a courtroom in Germany in front of her three year old son and says: “This case was so mind-baffling when I read it a few days ago and I still haven’t been able to wrap my mind...
Egyptian woman killed in German court for being veiled
Egyptian bloggers join forces to decry the murder of a veiled Egyptian woman in a German court. Marwa El Sherbini, 32, who was pregnant at the time of her murder was stabbed to death 18 times by the man she had sued for insulting her for wearing the Hijab (Islamic headscarf) after judges ruled in her favour. Here is a round up of reactions from Egypt.
Egypt: Wael Abbas Released, Laptop Confiscated
Egyptian blogger Wael Abbas was detained and questioned for 13 hours upon arrival in Cairo from a conference in Sweden. “finally released after 13 hours, found the lost bag, but they took the laptop still, i'm home now, will try to rest no calls plz thank u all,” he tweets...
