Middle East

The War in Gaza Could Be a Catalyst for Dissent in Egypt

Hossam el-Hamalawy / Africa Is A Country Oct 23, 2023 As the ruler of the most populous nation in the Arab world, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi should be concerned about the fallout of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war on his regime. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Trump’s America and Egypt’s Dictatorship Deserve Each Other

Maj. Danny Sjursen / Truthdig Jun 20, 2019 Not that Americans are paying attention, but there are important lessons to heed from the collapse of democracy in Egypt. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Ousted President Morsi Dies in Court During Trial

The Associated Press Jun 17, 2019 The country's former president Mohammed Morsi reportedly collapses during a court session. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Is It Time for an ‘American Spring’?

Rebecca Gordon / May 5, 2019 From Algeria to Morocco, there's been a new set of popular uprisings in northern Africa, protesting autocrats—of which the U.S. has its own. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Egypt Votes on Referendum Extending El-Sissi’s Rule to 2030

SAMY MAGDY / The Associated Press Apr 20, 2019 Passage would also broaden the military's role—a change blasted by critics as another major step toward authoritarian rule. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Egyptian Court Issues 75 Death Sentences for 2013 Sit-In

The Associated Press Jul 28, 2018 The action in Cairo supported former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who was militarily ousted following mass protests against his divisive one-year rule. Of the defendants sentenced, 44 are jailed and 31 are at large. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Egypt Arrests Critic for Insulting President

SAMY MAGDY / The Associated Press May 15, 2018 The arrest is part of a heavy crackdown on opposition by President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi, who led the military’s 2013 ouster of Egypt’s first freely elected leader. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Death Sentence for Morsi: Egypt’s Junta Takes Another Step Toward Being North Korea

Juan Cole / Truthdig May 18, 2015 That the only freely elected president Egypt has ever known has been sentenced to death is only to be expected from the current military junta, which made a coup in July 2013, and declared the former ruling party, the Muslim Brotherhood, to be a terrorist organization indistinguishable from al-Qaida. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Egypt’s Former President Mohammed Morsi Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Apr 21, 2015 In a verdict which an Amnesty International official says "shatters any remaining illusion of independence and impartiality in Egypt’s criminal justice system," Mohamed Morsi was convicted Tuesday by a Cairo court. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Egypt’s Mendacious President Dangles Freedom Before Imprisoned Al-Jazeera Journalists

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jan 29, 2015 Four Al-Jazeera journalists have been sitting in an Egyptian prison for more than a year because they dared to report on the coup orchestrated by Egypt's current president, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Russia and Egypt Reportedly Strike $3.5 Billion Arms Deal

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Sep 18, 2014 A top Russian military official said Wednesday that the country had made a sizable preliminary arms deal with Egypt to sell $3.5 billion worth of weapons to the North African nation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel’s Groundhog Day: Reverse Snowballs and the Horror of Lawn Mowing

Juan Cole / Truthdig Jul 12, 2014 A horrible video is circulating on social media, of a Palestinian father in Gaza who is bringing a toy to his 4-year-old son, only to find once he enters his home that his son’s head has been crushed by Israeli shrapnel. That is the face of Israel’s current military operation against Gaza to the outside world. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )