Category Archives: Politics

The Time Magazine and the Western Attitude towards Islamism

Posted on September 26, 2021 by nervana111

It was a baking hot July day in Cairo and my first day in medical school. Like many well-sheltered Egyptian girls, I was shy and introspective; I decided to spend my lecture break in the female section of the university’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Podcast: Turkey and NATO

Posted on June 14, 2021 by nervana111

Ahead of NATO summit in Brussels, I recorded this podcast with Steven Cook, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Aval’s Turkey Trends, on how Turkey presents a geopolitical dilemma for NATO.

Posted in Podcasts, Politics, Turkey | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Saudi Arabia and the challenges of Khashoggi’s murder

Posted on November 5, 2018 by nervana111

The brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has triggered dangerous repercussions for Saudi Arabia. Following the country’s formal admission of killing Khashoggi inside its consulate in Istanbul, Saudi Arabia has hoped the crisis triggered by his brutal murder will gradually … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Read, Middle East, Politics, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twitter Thread: Iraqi newspaper and Arab’s racism towards Kurds

Posted on September 28, 2017 by nervana111

I wrote in my latest piece on how I encountered racism against Kurds during my travel in the region. Here is  the latest example of this ugly racism. #Iraqi paper uses picture of five men in boxers and one young … Continue reading →

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Egypt’s Islamists and Pope Francis

Posted on May 1, 2017 by nervana111

  A photo circulated on social media accuses Pope Francis is known for his radicalism, hatred to Islam, and supports Zionism “The Pope of Terrorism” ____ a hashtag used by Islamists on Twitter to comment on Pope Francis’s recent visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of Aak, Egypt, Islam, Politics, Short Comments, Terrorism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Reflections on the Westminster Attack

Posted on March 30, 2017 by nervana111

Photo from my own collection “We are not afraid.” That was the simple note written on one of many floral tributes on London’s Westminster Bridge after last week’s terror attack there. I read this defiant message while walking along the … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Islamist Gehad Haddad Versus Muslim Reformer Maajid Nawaz

Posted on March 6, 2017 by nervana111

The New York Times (NYT) recently published a column by Gehad el-Haddad — the [previous] spokesman for the global Islamist group The Muslim Brotherhood — penned from the confines of his Egyptian jail cell, in Tora prison. Haddad wrote about … Continue reading →

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Shadi Hamid and the Infantilization of Muslims

Posted on February 27, 2017 by nervana111

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 , , , | 14 Comments

The New York Times And The Muslim Brotherhood

Posted on February 11, 2017 by nervana111

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 nervana111

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