Off-Screen
"From Egypt" attempts to draw a cultural map of Egypt and the Arab world by profiling the artistic, literary, and political issues that affect the region via on-the-ground coverage of current events, publications, and the fight for freedom of expression.

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Hamdy El-Gazzar is an Egyptian writer and one of the 39 young Arab writers included in the Beirut 39 Project. His first novel, Sihr Aswad (Dar Merit, 2005) won the prestigious Sawaris Award, and was subsequently translated by Humphrey Davies (Black Magic, AUC Press, 2007). His second novel, Ladhdhat Sirriyya (Secret Pleasures) was published by Dar al-Dar in 2008. He is currently working on a third novel.
  • Hamdy El-Gazzar
    Farewell
    by  / July 28, 2014

    Thank you for two amazing years, Hamdy el-Gazzar, who is signing off from Sampsonia Way. Without fail, his column provided insight into politics in Egypt, pressing social issues, and contemporary Egyptian literature.

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  • For Egypt/For Freedom
    For Egypt / For Freedom
    by  / July 14, 2014

    Hamdy el-Gazzar highlights the Egyptian intellectual response to the arrests of twenty-four activists who were charged with “breaking the law of demonstrating, damaging public and private property and demonstrating power…”

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  • Egyptian Women Against Mubarak
    The Dance
    by  / June 16, 2014

    Hamdy el-Gazzar on the “Sisi” presidential election, Egyptian women, and the beautiful art of dancing that serves as a regular backdrop to life events.

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  • Omar H
    Freedom for Omar Hazeq
    by  / May 5, 2014

    Hamdy el-Gazzar describes the situation swirling around Omar Hazeq who was an employee at the Library of Alexandria. Omar was dismissed from his position and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for breaking demonstration laws and taking part in a protest during the trial of Khalid Said’s murderers.

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Fearless, Ink.