Debates over reforming the Coptic Orthodox Church have sparked controversy among Copts. At the heart of the problem, argues Mariz Tadros*, lie questions of loyalty
Eight years ago, together with the late Hosny Guindy, the founding editor of Al-Ahram (...)
Human rights organisations had little to celebrate on this year's Human Rights Day, writes Mariz Tadros
The New Woman Research Centre (NWRC), one of the first contemporary women's organisations to engage in advocacy for women's human rights, is 20 (...)
As feminists and NGO advocates celebrated the legal recognition of the New Woman Research Centre, Mariz Tadros discovers the battle is far from over
It's official: the New Woman Research Centre (NWRC) has won its legal battle against the Ministry of (...)
The Ministry of Social Affairs has rejected two NGOs' applications for registration -- on security grounds. What does that mean for civil society, asks Mariz Tadros
The Ministry of Social Affairs has rejected the applications for registration of two (...)
This year Christmas in Egypt will be different. It won't just be a Coptic celebration, but a national one as well, Mariz Tadros reports.
For the first time ever, 7 January is expected to be a quiet, traffic- free day on the streets throughout Egypt. (...)
The executive regulations of Law 84, the highly controversial NGOs Law, are finally out. Mariz Tadros gauges the reactions
A fortnight ago, there was excitement in the air when Amina El-Guindy, the minister of social affairs, announced a press (...)
Khul', a newly acquired right to women, was designed to balance out men's right to unilateral divorce. But has it, asks Mariz Tadros
Salwa was passionately in love with Ahmed when they first met. She did everything possible so they may be together. (...)
Four university students in urgent need of medical treatment in London have been denied visas to the UK, reports Mariz Tadros
At noon on 9 April Mohamed Fawzi was attending a lecture at the Faculty of Commerce, Alexandria University. Outside he (...)
The new NGO law has failed society's expectations, but the NGOs vow to battle on, reports Mariz Tadros
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The new NGO law has inspired widespread disillusionment and anger among NGOs, who have long struggled for less restrictive (...)
The Shura Council approved a draft for the NGO law, but the controversy continues. Mariz Tadros gauges the reactions
Amina El-Guindi
The Shura Council approved, on Saturday, the draft of a new law regulating the the activities of non-governmental (...)
NGOs are preaching deviance in the communities in which they are active. Mariz Tadros finds out why
"For the last three years not one girl has been circumcised in our village," boasted Warda, a young woman from Ezbet Guirgis, a village inhabited by (...)
Two years ago, women were granted the right to instigate unilateral khul' divorce. It was supposed to change the face of Egyptian family life. However the results, Mariz Tadros discovers, have confounded all predictions
It has been two years since (...)
No Eid is the same without the sacrificial sheep but even this age-old custom is being hit by the recession. Mariz Tadros reports
The narrow road leading to the livestock market in Kerdasa, a rural area on the outskirts of the Al-Haram pyramid (...)
The taboo surrounding honour crimes is being chipped away. But whose honour are we talking about? Mariz Tadros examines the candidates
Last week, a man stabbed his sister-in-law to death because rumour had it that she was a woman of loose morals, (...)
'Civil society in the future' was the theme of a two day-conference held this week. It was unclear whose future was being debated, writes Mariz Tadros
A banner at the Ramses Hilton proudly announced the theme of a conference being held there under (...)
When do people decide they've had enough? Mariz Tadros tries to find out
It was a Saturday morning like any other. Reda Rizk, mother of four, woke early to prepare breakfast for her children before they headed to school. Little did she know that (...)
It is back to school for the nations children starting 15 September.Al-Ahram Weekly takes the occasion to ask how students secure their seats, what they will learn and how safe are their classrooms
Hitting the books
After 10 years of curriculum (...)
By Mariz Tadros
When, at the age of 18, Gabriel Baramki set off to study chemistry at the American University in Beirut, it never crossed his mind for a second that he would not be returning home to Jerusalem for the summer holidays. But this was (...)
By Mariz Tadros
Every day of the past week, eight-year-old Amna Selim was given the same firm instructions by her mother before going off to school: "If they give you any biscuits, don't eat them, no matter how hungry you are. Don't forget how ill (...)
By Mariz Tadros
Eleven-year-old Somaya dropped out of school because she just didn't like being stuck in class all morning. If you press her, she will say she could make at least LE3 a day picking okra in the fields -- and her family needs the extra (...)
By Mariz Tadros
Every day, someone has a story to tell about how such-and-such a doctor is now working as a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company, or as a hotel receptionist, or even as a tile layer. Unemployment in the prestigious and (...)
By Mariz Tadros
Until recently newspaper coverage of the northern coast was restricted to colourful features or else glossy advertisements for luxury villas overlooking the Mediterranean. In recent weeks, though, this carefully constructed image has (...)
By Mariz Tadros
On the roof of an old narrow building in the crowded Cairo quarter of Rod Al-Farag, a film director and his crew struggle with unruly extras, unwanted on-lookers -- and the overwhelming heat. The last is probably the most difficult (...)
By Mariz Tadros
Early on Saturday morning, Mona's mother heard that her sister-in-law was going to have her two girls, aged 11 and 12, circumcised. "When Mona found out, she told me that she, too, wanted to be circumcised like her cousins. She was (...)
By Mariz Tadros
Is it time to say goodbye to those dreary hours stuck in a traffic jam that seems to go on forever? Time, even, to throw out that mini-TV set stuck on the dashboard? Well maybe. Certainly the official opening yesterday by President (...)