Egyptian artist Gazbia Sirry’s, “The Nubian Family,” captured the moment of displacement of thousands of residents by the flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam. In 1962, artists throughout Egypt were invited to capture the moment. Instead of painting the construction of the dam itself, Sirry chose to pay homage to the villagers that lived there. Find out more in this AJ+ Arabic piece with Sultan. Read more »
Egypt
Inji Eflatoun: Massacre of Denshawai
In 1906, British soldiers assaulted villagers in the Egyptian delta. Those that fought back were imprisoned and executed. The incident enflamed growing Egyptian anti colonial sentiment and was captured in Inji Aflatoun’s “The Dinshaway Massacre.” It is the focus of Sultan’s discussion in this AJ+ story. Read more »
Huda Lutfi: Democracy is Coming
In 2003, Egyptian artist Huda Lutfi’s piece was created in opposition to the war on Iraq. Mostly gray, the painting shows Um Kalthoum, wearing a halo formed by the sarcastic words, “Democracy is Coming,” staring at ominous jets in the sky. Watch as Sultan takes a closer look at the piece in this AJ+ Arabic story. Read more »
Rafat Ishak: Immigration Application
194 letters sent to 194 countries requesting the right to immigrate to them make up this mixed media installation by Egyptian artist Raafat Ishak. Take a closer with Sultan in this AJ+ Arabic story. Read more »
Why is a ‘free’ Egypt more prudish about sex than Saudi Arabia?
Last month an Egyptian appeal court sentenced one of the region’s most promising young novelists, Ahmed Naji, to two years in jail for writing a story. Much has been written about the case but what intrigued me is that it appears that as the ceiling of what is publishable in the Arab Gulf States rises, the ceiling of what is allowed in Egypt keeps declining. Read more »
Why should Qatar reconcile with Egypt?
Ever since the popularly backed coup in Egypt in July 2013, there has been a break in relations between Cairo and Doha affecting not only ties between both states but also other matters of interest. It is time for Qatar to re-evaluate its relationship with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and learn from past mistakes. Rebuilding ties with the Egyptian people, before the government, is an important step in this direction. Read more »