Tahrir Square
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Protests in Egypt
Sisi's social media nightmare
Despite ongoing repression, hundreds of people took to the streets in Egypt at the weekend to demand the resignation of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. The protests were triggered by a hitherto largely unknown building contractor and his revelations about the Egyptian army. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Elias Khoury on the Arab Spring 2019
The re-birth of Tahrir Square
Ask what happened to the spirit of Tahrir Square and we find the reply in the Maghreb. Today Tahrir Square is in Algeria, in Sudan, and in many other places besides. Perhaps the secret of the Arab Spring lies not in its victories or its defeats, writes Elias Khoury, but in its ability to liberate people from fear
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Egyptian singer Dina El Wedidi
Hypnotic rail rhythms
Singer Dina El Wedidi was one of the most prominent Egyptian singers among the protestors in Tahrir Square. She has just released her latest album, "Manam / Slumber", an experimental venture featuring a 30-minute suite that captures the sounds of Egypt’s trains and railway stations. By Stefan Franzen
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Sufism in Egypt
Sufis, sheikhs and charlatans
Sufism has a tradition going back centuries in Egypt. Now the government is coming out in support of the mystics in a bid to undermine Islamism. Some fear that the essence of the movement will be lost in the process – but there are other more unexpected by-products of the Sufi trend. Christian Meier reports from Cairo.
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Legendary oud player and singer Sheikh Imam
Egypt's musical rebel
2 July 2018 marked the centenary of the birth of Egyptian protest singer Sheikh Imam. Martina Sabra visited the legendary artist several times in the 1990s and has observed that many years after his death, Sheikh Imam's music is still very much alive on the streets of Egypt
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Syrian oud player Bahur Ghazi
Hoping for a phoenix
Based in Switzerland, Syrian musician Bahur Ghazi has created an exciting synthesis of traditional Arabic music and jazz improvisation. Together with his band, Palmyra, he tells of his longing for peace in his homeland. By Stefan Franzen
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Abdul Fattah al-Sisi′s totalitarian state
Nearing completion
In recent months, the Egyptian regime has moved decisively to close what remains of public space, heralding a new era of repression that is likely to dominate all aspects of political life for decades to come. By Maged Mandour
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′Pharaoh′ Mubarak′s acquittal
Some are more equal
While ex-dictator Hosni Mubarak – who has apparently got off scot-free – will not be called to account for the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators, democracy activists released from detention such as Ahmed Maher continue to suffer harassment at the hands of the legal system. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
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Interview with Egyptian activist Ahmed Said
The scorpion's sting
Trainee doctor Ahmed Said was arrested in Egypt in 2015 and imprisoned for one year. His crime? Taking part in a peaceful event to mark the 2011 revolution. Part of his sentence was spent in the infamous ″Scorpion″, a prison where torture is rife. Interview by Delia Friess
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Sara Taksler′s documentary ″Tickling Giants″
Running the satirical gauntlet
His cutting humour led to Bassem Youssef becoming a comedy star throughout the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Spring in Egypt. Yet, the spring of freedom was short-lived: by the end of 2013, his popular show was abruptly cancelled. An American documentary film portrays the legendary satirist. By Rene Wildangel
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Tahrir Square's democracy activists
The forgotten heroes
Egypt's activists were once the heroes of Tahrir Square. Then the world forgot them – and all other Arab democrats along with them. Authoritarian states and Salafists are not giving them any leeway. By Mey Dudin
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Dina Hamza′s documentary film "Gaye El Zaman"
A daughter's tribute
Egyptian director Dina Hamza's latest documentary film "Gaye El Zaman" (The Past Will Return) is a project very close to her heart. Her late father, who died in 2010, was a prolific songwriter for over four generations, with many of his compositions remaining popular to this day – including 37 songs he wrote in memory of music legend Abdel Halim Hafez. By Sherif Abdel Samad