Category: Editorial

Child marriages in Egypt, Editorial, Sex Tourism in Egypt1 Comment

Is Egypt Really Putting a Price Tag on Women?

Women of Egypt

— By:Alexandra Kinias — Controversy erupted among Egyptian women activists over Chief Justice Ahmed El Zend’s decree that compels foreigners marrying Egyptian brides, twenty five years their junior, to issue them bank certificates worth of 50,000 L.E. On one hand, there are those who denounce the decree for putting a price tag on women, and thus facilitating prostitution and human trafficking. On the other, there are those, I among them, who hail the decree for finally addressing a subject that has been ignored for decades and taking the right step towards the protection of these women, who often are forced … Continue reading Is Egypt Really Putting a Price Tag on Women?

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In the Name of the Gods

Women of Egypt

— By: Alexandra Kinias — Article published “Zamalek Island 11211 Magazine” November 2015 The relationship between humans and gods dates back to the beginning of time. People of ancient civilizations created the mythologies and worshiped their multiple deities. Mythologies are the cultural evolutions of these civilizations. They are the stories of the gods that answered the speculative curiosity that intrigued the people. They explained to them the mysteries of the creation, the origin of humans, the good and the evil, life and death, the underground world, the afterlife and the supernatural forces that their primitive minds couldn’t comprehend. In his … Continue reading In the Name of the Gods

Editorial, Women in Egypt, Women Rights in Egypt1 Comment

Divorce in Egypt may actually be a healthy sign

Women of Egypt

— By: Alexandra Kinias — The concern by many over the soaring divorce rates between young couples in Egypt may be argued by others as a healthy phenomenon. Shocking as it sounds to some, but these rates suggest that young couples are rebelling against the obsolete rules and regulations that had once governed and shaped the fate of their parents and grandparents, and forced women to stay in dysfunctional marriages against their wishes. And with the increasing rate of divorce, marriage counselling, a novelty to the society, is thriving.  Marriage counseling is also a positive indication that marital problems that … Continue reading Divorce in Egypt may actually be a healthy sign

Editorial, Women Rights in Egypt4 Comments

Who Will Throw the First Stone at Zeina?

Women of Egypt

— By: Alexandra Kinias — After two and a half years fighting in courts, Zeina vs Ahmed Ezz’s paternity saga finally ended with a victorious milestone for Egyptian women. The verdict would allow the actress to issue birth certificates for her twins in spite of actor Ahmed Ezz’s, the presumptive father, denial of his paternity. Furthermore, in an unprecedented ruling that would also benefit thousands of women who are fighting similar cases, the judge shifted the responsibility to the presumptive fathers to contest their paternity. So for Zeina’s case, and until proven otherwise by Ezz, the twins will carry his … Continue reading Who Will Throw the First Stone at Zeina?

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Censoring Movies in Egypt

Women of Egypt

Written by: Alexandra Kinias On its journey from birth to screen, Egyptian movies require triple permits before they see the light. The screenplay must first be approved before a shooting permit is issued. Before the movie is shot, the censorship bureau can demand the removal of scenes, tamper with the story or even change the title as happened with Cairo Exit which its initial title was Egypt Exit. Unless producers comply with such requirements, movies will forever remain on paper. Once a movie is shot, a screening permission must be granted. And as a final reminder of who has the … Continue reading Censoring Movies in Egypt

Editorial, Sectarian violence1 Comment

The Egyptian Inquisition

Women of Egypt

— By: Alexandra Kinias — The hopes of 24 years old school teacher Demiana Abdel-Nour to return home from self-exile were postponed indefinitely, on June 16, 2014, when the Egyptian appeals court upheld a blasphemy conviction against her and sentenced her to six months in prison, in addition to the earlier ruling that only imposed a fine of LE 100,000. Among the many challenges taking place in Egypt, the developments in Abdel-Nour’s case were sidelined by most Egyptian media. The young teachers’ nightmare started in May 2013, when parents of three of her pupils, accused her of insulting Islam and … Continue reading The Egyptian Inquisition

Editorial, Politics3 Comments

Egypt’s cultural decline and the boiling frog theory

Women of Egypt

–By: Alexandra Kinias With the abhorring cultural decline in Egypt one can’t help but draw a correlation between such decline and the rise of radical or what became known as political Islam, that has swiped the country and already mutated into terrorism in the name of God. It is quite a thorny thought that on first impulse, may initiate fervor attacks and criticism from devout Muslims. However, it is not Islam that is under attack, but rather the actions of radical sheiks and religious scholars who have appointed themselves custodians of the faith; the neo-Islam. These fanatics believe that by … Continue reading Egypt’s cultural decline and the boiling frog theory

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The Illusion of the International Women’s Day

Women of Egypt

  — By: Alexandra Kinias — The hype over the International Women’s Day [IWD] has subsided and men are free again to abuse and mistreat women for the next 364 days. I don’t mean to be satirical over this international event nor is my intention to undermine the global efforts to improve women’s conditions and status worldwide. Yet, I have mixed feelings regarding the dedication of certain days to celebrate one cause or another. And IWD is not exempt; not that I disregard the attention that celebrating this day brings to many women’s causes. Such celebrations remind me of a … Continue reading The Illusion of the International Women’s Day