In an ideal world the quota should be removed! The quota is an insult, actually. Treating women as politically handicapped individuals is clear discrimination. But then again, we live in the real world where a lot of men – trying... (Continue reading)
“Closing The Gap” project consisted of three phases which took place in a partnership between The Egyptian Life Center for Creativity and Culture jointly with the American Freedom House organization. Its primary phase included an intensive workshop that took place... (Continue reading)
In October 2009, the Niqab (or face cover) stirred a lot of controversy when the late Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi - head of Al Azhar and Egypt's Imam - asked a 13 year old girl to uncover her face while he... (Continue reading)
Rakha added "If a person - male or female, heterosexual or homosexual, HIV infected or not, dark-skinned or fair-skinned - has passed their exams and assessments for any position in the state then they are fully entitled to assume that... (Continue reading)
Published in 2008, Dr Youssef Zidane's Azazeel (Beelzebub) created a stir, followed by resentment. Today - in 2010 - he is being accused of blasphemy and defaming Christianity and as insulting any of the 'heavenly faiths' is illegal in Egypt,... (Continue reading)
Four of the seven upstream Nile Basin Initiative countries have decided to sign a new Nile deal. Despite strong Egyptian and Sudanese opposition, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia signed a new water-sharing agreement. The other three countries, Kenya, Burundi and... (Continue reading)
Upon discussing recurrent demonstrations and the 6th of April pro-democracy protest, Egyptian ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) members of Parliament lashed out during a verbal battle with Muslim Brotherhood MPs over protesters in the country on Sunday and said Egyptian... (Continue reading)
Rakha says that "if you think you are a writer, if you think you want people to hear your voice, if you do not want to be at the mercy of a publisher who will make you pay, will not... (Continue reading)
In April 2008, freedom of speech and creativity in Egypt was hit in its core with the confiscation of Magdy El Shafee's adult graphic novel - Metro. Since then the author and his publisher have beenon trial and while every... (Continue reading)
The Niqab (or face cover) is making the headlines again after the head of Al Azhar and Egypt's Imam, Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi asked a young girl to uncover her face while he was inspecting an Azhar school in Cairo.... (Continue reading)
Egypt's Culture Minister Farouk Hosni has kept bloggers busy over the previous few days. His failed bid to secure a seat at the helm of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has polarised the blogosphere, with some... (Continue reading)
Egyptian Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni has made it to the fourth round of voting for the post of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the global institution concerned with genuine dialogue based upon... (Continue reading)
Today Mohamed Abdel Salam of Bikya Masr reported: Coptic lawyer throws hat in for Presidential run:... (Continue reading)
For the first time in Egypt, the Ministry of Interior arrests Muslims who eat and drink in public during Ramadan. Activists on Twitter said the arrests are illegal and the Ministry proves they are!... (Continue reading)
Now, a Palestinian-Norwegian mother of two was stopped by security as she attempted to board her flight to Amsterdam... (Continue reading)
Fasting in the holy month of Ramadan is the 4th pillar of Islam where Muslims are expected to refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset as an exercise of self-discipline and penance that has a deeper spiritual level.... (Continue reading)
After a series of failed attempts to launch a television channel for the Coptic faith in Egypt over the past 15 years, two channels were authorized and four more are in the pipeline.... (Continue reading)
American journalist Travis Randall has been denied entry to Egypt and then deported. Bloggers react to his treatment in this round up of posts by Marwa Rakha. ... (Continue reading)