Archive for the 'Blogs' Category


Oslo Freedom Forum 2011: Censorship

In May, I spoke on a panel at the Oslo Freedom Forum 2011 about the power of censorship. Here’s what I said: And here’s the full panel.


“Gay Girl in Damascus” blog hoax

I was on CBC Connect with Mark Kelly to talk about the “Gay Girl in Damascus” blog hoax.


Egypt’s “virginity Tests” on CNN

An Egyptian general speaking on condition of anonymity admitted to CNN that that female activists detained on March 9 had indeed been subjected to “virginity tests”, as the women have insisted all along. I talked about “virginity tests” and gender politics on two CNN shows below.  


These “virginity tests” will spark Egypt’s next revolution

By Mona Eltahawy The Guardian There’s a thin line between sex and politics, and it is nonsense to keep repeating the mantra that Egypt’s revolution "wasn’t about gender". What revolution worth its salt can be fuelled by demands of freedom and dignity and not have gender nestled in its beating heart – especially in a [...]


On CNN and PBS Newshour on Obama Middle East Speech

On Thursday, I was on CNN to analyse Pres. Obama’s Middle East speech.   And on PBS Newshour along with Rami Khoury and Martin Indyk


Arabian Business’ Most Powerful Arab Women/Arabs in the World 2011

Arabian Business magazine recently compiled a list of 100 Most Powerful Arab Women 2011, which placed me at 51 and a list of 500 Most Powerful Arabs in the World, which placed me at 124. It was interesting to compare the Arabic-language bio they’ve posted for me with their English-language one – quite different!


Aspen Symposium on State of Race in America and Presenting Ridenhour Documentary Prize to “Budrus”

I spoke on a panel on media and popular culture along with Spike Lee, Donna Byrd and Will Griffin at the Aspen Institute’s Symposium on the State of Race in America (our panel starts at 1:21:00). It was a pleasure to introduce Ronit Avni of JustVision and to present her and the team behind “Budrus” [...]


Egypt’s Youth Stepping Up to the Challenge

I contributed the following to a NYTimes.com Room for Debate asking “Will Egypt’s Youth Movement Be Pushed Aside?”. The other contributors are here. Stepping Up to the Challenge By Mona Eltahawy March 25, 2011 Young people are already stepping up to the challenge of forming a viable coalition with new initiatives like the Youth Revolution [...]


My Challenge to J-Street: As Mideast/N.Africa rises up, Let’s Rise up For Freedom And Dignity for Palestinians

I spoke on a plenary at J-Street’s Second Annual Conference on the implications of revolutions and uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. I stressed that the rally for freedom and dignity sweeping the region would not stop at the borders of Palestine and I challenged J-Street and Israel to join a revolution for [...]


Gaddafi: Running on Crazy

By Mona Eltahawy Huffington Post, Feb. 23, 2011 NEW YORK – If Tunisia kicked down the door of the Arab imagination by showing it was possible to topple a dictator, Egypt drew a blueprint of non-violence for the house of revolution that detailed how to demolish a stubbornly entrenched dictator and now in Libya a [...]


Egypt’s Revolution: PBs Frontline

I was on a PBS Frontline programme on Egypt’s Revolution and the role of the Muslim Brotherhood. Here’s the transcript of the full interview I gave Frontline in which I explain that the revolution gave the middle finger to many things. I was featured in this Newsweek piece on talking heads on Egypt.


CAnadian TV: Talking about Libya

I was on Canada’s CBC to highlight the slaughter of Libyans rising up against Muammar Gaddafi and also on CTV to urge more international condemnation and awareness of business and oil deals at the expense of Libyan lives.


CTV: Libya, BAhrain, Yemen and Freedom Rally

I was on Canada’s CTV on Saturday to discuss the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Libya and Bahrain and how U.S. interests weigh in on the geopolitics of several uprisings in the region.


CNN: Egypt, Women’s Rights, sexual assault/harassment

I spoke about the Egyptian revolution, women’s rights and sexual assault and harassment in Egypt with CNN American Morning’s Kiran Chetry.


Women’s Rights, Sexual Harassment and Egypt’s REvolution

I was on CTV and CBC Connect on Wednesday to talk about women’s rights, the sexual assault of Lara Logan and Egypt’s revolution.


Taking Egypt REvolution to Sunday News shows

CBS Sunday Morning broadcast my video essay on how Egypt’s revolution toppled both a dictator and stereotypes of Arabs I was part of a roundtable on Egypt along with Arianna Huffington, George Will and Robert Kagan on This Week with Christiane Amanpour. When was the last time you saw more women than men on a [...]


Mabrouk! Tears for Egypt

Here’s how I reacted to news that Hosni Mubarak had stepped down as president of Egypt after an 18-day uprising on a Brian Lehrer Show special on revolutions. Lot of hard work to do now but well worth celebrating!


US: Blinking and Backing Down in Egypt

Here’s my contribution to the NYTimes.com Room for Debate panel asking “Is Caution the Right U.S. Strategy” for Egypt’s revolution. Blinking and Backing Down By Mona Eltahawy Hosni Mubarak has ruled Egypt for 30 years, keeping the country in a state of emergency for every one of those years, overseeing one forged election after the [...]


Feb. 7 Media: CNN and PBS Newshour

On CNN American Morning, I discussed distrust of Omar Suleiman, Frank Wisner’s conflict of interest and news of impending release of Wael Ghonim. Discussing who speaks for whom in Egypt on PBS Newshour, I further expanded on distrust of Suleiman and Wisner/US administration and also highlighted the likelihood of Wael Ghonim’s release to galvanize pro-democracy [...]


Real Time And Overtime With Bill Maher

I took Egypt’s revolution to Real Time With Bill Maher and continued the discussion on Overtime.