Archive: egypt

29th October 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
    Zahi Hawass Indiana Jones The US Department of Justice is investigating whether National Geographic broke the law by paying up to $200,000 a year to Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former antiquities chief, according to the newly-launched American website, Vocativ. The Justice Department, in line with… Read more
21st October 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
Earlier this month several gay websites reported a rather puzzling story from Egypt. According to Gay Star News and Pink News, 14 men had been arrested for "homosexual acts" at a "medical centre" in El-Marg district of Cairo. Neither story gave any details about the "medical centre" or any clues as… Read more
5th October 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
On August 14, hundreds of Egyptians died when security forces violently dispersed sit-in protests against the military takeover that ousted President Morsi. One week later, hundreds of Syrians died in the chemical attacks near Damascus. Both these massacres were on a similar scale, and yet only one… Read more
13th August 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
The tragedy of the Egyptian revolution, as reflected in yesterday's appalling carnage, is that two-and-a-half years after the uprising against the Mubarak regime so many people still hanker after authoritarian solutions. This is not altogether surprising since for decades they have known no other… Read more
6th August 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
As far as Arab society is concerned, openly declaring a disbelief in God is a shocking and sometimes dangerous thing to do. It can lead to being ostracised by family, friends and the local community – as well as charges of apostasy which in some countries carry the death penalty.Read more
29th July 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
  Libya is about to embark on the drafting of a new constitution. Depending on how this process is handled, it can either stimulate a constructive debate about the future system of government and move the country forward from the Gaddafi era, or it can simply exacerbate existing divisions. A good… Read more
27th July 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
All three of North Africa's "Arab Spring" countries are now in a state of crisis. While media attention, for obvious reasons, is focused mostly on the carnage in Egypt – latest reports say at least 70 pro-Morsi protesters were killed overnight – serious developments in Tunisia and Libya should not… Read more
17th July 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
  The rights and wrongs of President Morsi's overthrow – and its political repercussions – continue to dominate discussion of Egypt. But beyond the turmoil on the streets, and attracting far less attention so far, is the country's floundering economy.  At some point, someone will have to take the… Read more
10th July 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
  The overthrow of President Morsi has prompted new debate about the future of Islamist movements in Egypt and beyond. To some, it signals the beginning of the end for political Islam. Writing in the London Review of Books, for instance, Hazem Kandil suggests“the country that invented Islamism may… Read more
4th July 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
  It is a sad testament to the failure of Mohamed Morsi's presidency that his claim to remain in office has been based on right rather than merit.  Almost everyone accepts that he was legitimately elected, and that is certainly a strong point in his favour. But once a leader has been elected,… Read more