Category: Politics

Islam and Women, Politics, Violence against women, Women of Egypt, Women's Rights, Women's rights in Egypt2 Comments

How the Tribal Culture of Arabia is shaping the Political Life of Muslim Women

Women of Egypt

–By:Alexandra Kinias — Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world was ruled by a woman. Megawati Sukarnoputri served as President of Indonesia in 2001. Bangladesh, the third populace Muslim country, had been ruled as of 2016, for the past 25 years by women; Khaleda Zia and Sheikha Hassina Wajed, respectively, were both elected as prime ministers. The list of Muslim countries that were ruled by women includes Pakistan, Turkey, Senegal, Kyrgyzstan and Mali. Kosovo and Mauritius have female presidents. In Afghanistan, two female candidates ran for president against Hamid Karzai. Out of these eleven Muslim countries, none is an Arab, … Continue reading How the Tribal Culture of Arabia is shaping the Political Life of Muslim Women

PoliticsLeave a comment

Why there will be no Third revolution in Egypt?

Women of Egypt

— By Said Sadek —– History is full of more unsuccessful uprisings and revolutions than successful ones. Inability to read the balance of powers, social-political and global situation always leads to failure: Here are the reasons why the planned uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood on the 3rd of July is going to be another failure. 1. The Brotherhood had failed during one year to mount any big demonstration or even a million to join any demo. 2. Reading the explosions in Itihadya as a sign that the Interior Ministry and Defense Establishment in Egypt are weak and conclude that the historical … Continue reading Why there will be no Third revolution in Egypt?

Europe and Islam, Politics2 Comments

Changes

Women of Egypt

Article and photographs by: Bente Haarstad Published with author’s approval. Norway have changed a great deal the last years. The population has grown more than 10 percent in just a few years. Now we are 5.1 million people, 0.5 million more than in 2005. All this growth because of immigration, because Norwegians are like the rest of Western Europe, in decline. Immigrants now accounts for 15 percent of the population, in the capital Oslo, 31 percent, and for the third year in a row Muhammad is the most popular name for newborn boys. It used to be Per, or Ole. These photos … Continue reading Changes

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

Politics9 Comments

A New Dawn Rises Over Egypt

Women of Egypt

— By: Alexandra Kinias — I wonder why the decision by General Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the Egyptian Minister of Defense, to run for president came as a surprise to some. The reaction by those who are against his decision to run gives the impression that they were not anticipating it, in spite that he had indirectly mentioned it himself in one of his speeches. Their despair, criticism, skepticism and sarcasm made it sound that the political arena was filled with knights in silver armor, super heroes and action figures and that Sisi snatched it from them. Excuse me, but … Continue reading A New Dawn Rises Over Egypt

Politics4 Comments

Why the Iranian Scenario Failed in Egypt? – Part III : Comparing the Revolutions

Women of Egypt

The Shah and Empress Farah Diba stayed for a week at the Oberoi Hotel in the winter resort town of Aswan. They attended state dinners and went sightseeing with President Sadat and the first lady. The Shah also met with the American President Gerald Ford who was on a Middle East tour. The small quite town of Aswan buzzed with journalists, reporters and photographers from all over the world. The despair and exhaustion were evident in the photos of the Iranian royals. The news that was coming from Iran was bleak and disturbing. With the events unfolding back home, it … Continue reading Why the Iranian Scenario Failed in Egypt? – Part III : Comparing the Revolutions

PoliticsLeave a comment

Why the Iranian Scenario Failed in Egypt? – Part Two

Women of Egypt

— By Alexandra Kinias —- Leaving behind the unrest that had erupted a year earlier by the anti-royalists and had spread to every corner of Iran, Mohamed Reza Pahlavi, who was then diagnosed with cancer, fled Tehran with his family. He and his family arrived to Aswan, Egypt; the first stop on their journey to exile. The departure of the Shah from Iran ended the rule of the Pahlavi Dynasty that had started in 1926 with the coronation of his father Reza Khan after he deposed of Ahmed Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty in 1925. In … Continue reading Why the Iranian Scenario Failed in Egypt? – Part Two

Politics3 Comments

Flashes from another Life

Women of Egypt

It is imperative to understand that the rise of political Islam in Egypt is the result of methodical and continuous planning and execution that has been in the making for decades. I witnessed the birth and growth of Islamic extremism in Egypt in the eighties of the last century. It was inevitable that the snowball that had started rolling back then would acquire momentum and these extremist movements would gain enough strength to drive the country in the direction which we are witnessing today. I recall an incident that happened to me thirty years ago, on a hot and humid … Continue reading Flashes from another Life

Politics, Sectarian violence1 Comment

The Night the Virgin Mary Wept

Women of Egypt

By: Alexandra Kinias — I pulled myself out of bed and put an end to another long insomniac night. Sleep had been unattainable since the news of the army dispersing the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) sit-ins that were occupying the streets of Cairo, Egypt took center stage, and the anticipated violence and terrorist attacks by the ousted President’s followers were swiping the country from one corner to the other, as they had promised. Filled with exhaustion after several sleepless nights, I crawled out of bed and back to my computer screen that I bid goodnight few hours earlier. The crickets were … Continue reading The Night the Virgin Mary Wept

Politics, Sectarian violence1 Comment

The Night the Virgin Mary Wept

Women of Egypt

By: Alexandra Kinias — I pulled myself out of bed and put an end to another long insomniac night. Sleep had been unattainable since the news of the army dispersing the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) sit-ins that were occupying the streets of Cairo, Egypt took center stage, and the anticipated violence and terrorist attacks by the ousted President’s followers were swiping the country from one corner to the other, as they had promised. Filled with exhaustion after several sleepless nights, I crawled out of bed and back to my computer screen that I bid goodnight few hours earlier. The crickets were … Continue reading The Night the Virgin Mary Wept