Category Archives: Best Read

A Muslim woman’s choice

Posted on October 12, 2017 by

I wrote this piece for British newspaper I News “Is that your husband? He is English?” Of the millions of Egyptians in the world today, you opted to marry an Englishman?”   The Syrian passport control officer glared at me after … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Egypt, Islam, Tunisia | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

How can Liberal Muslims win?

Posted on September 7, 2017 by

Here is an English version of my latest Arabic article published in Al-Hurra   ( Tunisian women- via Al-Hurra)   Although attempts to liberalise Islamic discourse have been ongoing for centuries, they have failed to find sustainable general acceptance in Muslim … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Islam, Middle East, Terrorism | Leave a comment

The dismal state of some of Egypt’s Islamic scholars

Posted on May 14, 2017 by

Muslim scholar Salem Abdel Galil – Photo via Egypt today Sheikh Salem Abdel Galil, a prominent Egyptian Muslim scholar and former deputy minister for proselytization at Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments, sparked a far-reaching controversy this week after he described … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Diary of Aak, Egypt, Islam | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is wrong with Egypt’s Al-Azhar?

Posted on May 8, 2017 by

Grand Imam of al-Azhar ( Photo via Al-Azhar) Last Friday, the head of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, Ahmed Hosny, was sacked after only three months in the position, after labelling Muslim reformer and TV host Islam Al-Beheiry an apostate. This may … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Diary of Aak, Egypt | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Shadi Hamid and the Infantilization of Muslims

Posted on February 27, 2017 by

Islamic liberalism and its role in modern-day Islam became the subject of a timely and provocative debate organized recently by the Cato Institute, a public policy research organization. The event was hosted by Turkish writer Mustafa Akyol and Shadi Hamid … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Islam, Middle East, Politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

The New York Times And The Muslim Brotherhood

Posted on February 11, 2017 by

On February 9, The New York Times (NYT) published an editorial titled “All of Islam Isn’t the Enemy.” The article suggests that an order issued by the American President, Donald Trump, designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, would … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Egypt, Islam, Middle East, Politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Women’s March and the Selectivity of Anti-Trump Feminism

Posted on January 21, 2017 by

Women’s march in Washington Photo via Slate magazine Hundred of thousands of women in America and other countries are protesting against Donald Trump’s presidency. It is refreshing to see women from all walks of life, including many celebrities, standing up against … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Islam, Politics, Short Comments, women rights | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Carnage at the Cathedral

Posted on December 13, 2016 by

Coffins of some of the victims of the explosion at Coptic Cathedral (AFP) “Is that a church or a military fortress?” my Islamist medical school colleague asked as she gazed at the Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, her face reflected a … Continue reading →

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Reflection on Trump’s victory and the crisis of the liberal camp

Posted on November 12, 2016 by

“To the Egyptian lady sitting in the last row, if you want Trump, you can have him.” I was attending a political conference that featured a heated debate on the US presidential election, and these words from an American delegate … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Islam, Politics, Short Comments, women rights | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Iran, chess, and the psychological bullying of non-hijabi defiant women

Posted on October 16, 2016 by

A poisonous debate has erupted since Nazi Paikidze, a 22-year-old American champion chess player, announced her decision to boycott next year’s World Chess Championship competition in Iran. A stream of articles published criticism about her decision to boycott and her … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Iran, Islam, women rights | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments