“The foreign tourist, when he comes for a holiday on the Red Sea knows nothing about Egypt, its history or its culture,” writes the Italian Egypt-based artist Carmini Cartolano in his book Masriyano. “In some cases, he knows nothing about its location on the map. He only knows that all Egyptians are Muslims and this […]

One day this past November, two-year-old Hossam Arafa was playing near in his home in the al-Dadasiyat mountain village in Luxor, when he was bitten by a scorpion. His father immediately took the toddler to the village health center but was told that an anti-scorpion venom serum was unavailable. One day this past November, two-year-old […]

For a while now, the Institute of Police in Tora, near the Tora prison complex, has become a place frequently visited by victims of injustice and those seeking justice— a place for those who still dream of making a small triumph in a revolution, in a phase characterized by defeat. For a while now, the […]

Although President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced in his speech at the United Nations last month that Egypt was on its way to completing the roadmap by holding parliamentary elections. Even the Interior Minister recently said: “If elections were held now, the Muslim Brotherhood Movement would emerge as a winner” suggesting further that elections may still […]

Even if the newspapers try hard to reflect realities as they are, what they reflect is only a picture of the reality or a reflection of it and not the reality itself. Even if the newspapers try hard to reflect realities as they are, what they reflect is only a picture of the reality or […]

Thirty-seven-year-old Egyptian journalist Mohamed Baali had followed the Tunisian Revolution with great interest and on January 25, 2011, when Mubarak was toppled by Egypt’s popular uprising, Baali took a leave from his well-paid job in the United Arab Emirates and returned to Egypt on the morning of “Angry Friday” on January 28. Thirty-seven-year-old Egyptian journalist […]

Where there is a gathering in Egypt, there is a possibility of sexual aggression against women. Holiday seasons, in particular, have become so tainted by sexual assaults that a number of political parties, anti-harassment initiatives and women’s organizations launched ‘The Holiday Season Is Round the Corner’ campaign to bring awareness to the troubling phenomenon of […]

The camel market in Berqash in Giza Governorate, stretches over an area of approximately 25 acres.  It is considered the biggest camel market in the Arab world and more than 350,000 camels per year are traded here. Today, fewer camels arrive—only 1,000 per week compared to 5,000 per week, prior to the 2011 revolution because […]

The soft voice of Ismail Bilbeisi purrs over a melancholic melody:  I have been patient for so long / it is enough / I can’t take it much longer / this road / so close to my heart / I’ve spent my life walking down that road / this road / I have spent my […]

1. 1. Rose of Cairo, where can I leave you that you will be safe and sound? I fear for you at the hands of lovers inflamed by prolonged deprivation. I fear for you at your own hands, at those of the taxi driver who gives me a richly sentimental look, as though congratulating a […]