Monthly Archives: January 2015

Egyptian Courts Take on FGM, But Can They Uproot the Practice Altogether?

Posted on January 30, 2015 by

I wrote this piece for the Harvard Journal of Middle East Politics and policy, hope you enjoy it. (Victim of FGM, 13-year-old Egyptian girl Suhair al-Bataa- Photo via AP) In a landmark verdict handed down last Monday, an Egyptian doctor was convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of Aak, Egypt, Islam, Middle East, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Egyptian Aak 2015 – Week 4 ( Jan 19 – 25)

Posted on January 26, 2015 by

(Photo of  activist Shaimaa Al-Sabbagh  shot  in Cairo on Saturday) (Via Youm 7 newspaper) Main Headlines  Monday El-Sisi in Riyadh over the King’s health El-Sisi opens energy summit in Abu-Dhabi Emir of Qatar will attend Egypt’s economic summit Egyptian jihadists … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of Aak, Egypt | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

El-Sisi and Human Rights in Egypt

Posted on January 20, 2015 by

  (Photo via Reuters) In a change of tune, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi acknowledged on Tuesday that Egypt’s police committed human rights abuses after the overthrow of his predecessor, but said they were expected given the “exceptional” security threats … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of Aak, Egypt, Middle East | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Egyptian Aak 2015 – Week 3 ( Jan 12 – 18)

Posted on January 18, 2015 by

(Egypt’s best known actress. May 27, 1931 – January 17, 2015) Main Headlines  Monday A Libya affiliate of ISIS has claimed the abduction of 21 Coptic Christians Court acquits 26 men in “gay bathhouse” case Egyptian security  arrests ISIS cell that … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of Aak, Egypt, Islam | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Muslims and Charlie Hebdo

Posted on January 16, 2015 by

( Photo via Twitter) A depiction of the Prophet Mohammed crying and holding a “Je suis Charlie” sign under the words, “Tout Est Pardonné” (“All is forgiven.”) on the new cover of the French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo is ironically, … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Islam, Middle East, Politics, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Egyptian Aak 2015 – Week 2 ( Jan 5- 11)

Posted on January 11, 2015 by

(Message from the fiancée of Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy) (Courtesy France 24’s Sonia  Dridi) Main Headlines  Monday Sisi flies to Kuwait Amal Clooney disputes Egypt arrest warning story Egyptian judge says verdict in gay raid trial will be announced next … Continue reading →

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Egypt and the Jewish Rabbi Abu-Hasira

Posted on January 5, 2015 by

Yacoub or Jacob Abu Hasira. (photo:Wikimedia Commons) Egypt – A court in Alexandria has canceled an annual Jewish festival commemorating the birthday of Abu-Hasira, a leading 19th-century Moroccan Rabbi (1805-1880). The festival was due to take place on January 9 … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Egypt, Israel, Middle East, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Egyptian Aak 2015 – Week 1 ( Dec 29- Jan 4)

Posted on January 4, 2015 by

( Amal Clooney, photo via Thanassis Stavrakis/Pool/Getty) Main Headlines Monday  Sisi: Wide-scale governors’ reshuffle in January Al Jazeera journalists mark 1 year anniversary of imprisonment in Egypt Australian FM: Hopes dim Egypt to release Australian Al Jazeera journalist soon North … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of Aak, Egypt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments