Turmoil at Al-Azhar: Religion, Politics, and the Egyptian State
Jared Malsin on the religious and political stakes of upheaval at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. Continue Reading →
a review of religion and media
Jared Malsin on the religious and political stakes of upheaval at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. Continue Reading →
Jared Malsin reports from Cairo on the political choices facing Coptic Christians in today’s Egypt. Continue Reading →
by Maurice Chammah At first I did a double take, seeing the word ‘Weinstein’ in simple block letters one story above street level in downtown Cairo. Continue Reading →
by Maurice Chammah At first I did a double take, seeing the word ‘Weinstein’ in simple block letters one story above street level in downtown Cairo. Continue Reading →
Egyptians were deeply divided on whether to say “yes” or “no” to the proposed amendments to their country’s constitution following the January 25th Revolution. On the hot and dusty morning of Saturday, March 19th, after weeks of debate on-air, online, in newspaper op-ed pages and in our own living rooms, we lined up in droves to cast our votes.
I prepared carefully for this historic day: Through an online portal set-up by the armed forces I checked which schools were designated as polling stations in my neighborhood; I made sure my national ID, proving my eligibility to vote, was in my wallet; I hired a baby sitter to watch my toddler so that I could go brave the long queues unhampered.
Most importantly, in the few days leading up to the referendum, I read all the different editorials and analyses both in favor of “yes” and “no” so that I could make an informed decision on which way to cast my vote. Exercising my right to vote as an Egyptian citizen was made much easier by the technology, finances and education that my upper middle-class background afforded me.
Umm Fatima, who is married to the neighbor’s bawab (building keeper), doesn’t have access to any of these things. Continue Reading →