Culture

Culture

15:29

Saudi releases liberal writer held over Islam 'insults'

Turki al-Hamad
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RIYADH - Saudi authorities on Wednesday freed liberal writer Turki al-Hamad who has been held without trial since December over comments posted on Twitter deemed insulting to Islam, a rights activist said. Hamad, a...
18:05

This Day in History, 30 May 1941: Egyptian comedian Younis Shalabi is born

Comedian actor Younis Shalaby (file photo)
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Famous Egyptian comedian Younis Shalabi was born in Mansoura, Daqahlia. He studied at the Institute for Theatrical Arts in Cairo. Shalabi first attracted the attention of audiences with his role in madraset al-...
15:46

This Day in History, 28 May 2010: Egyptian author Osama Anwar Okasha dies

Egyptian scenarist Osama Anwar Okasha
Makhlouf
  Osama Anwar Okasha was one of the most outstanding scenarists and dramatists in Egyptian and Arab history, whose TV drama series enjoyed the highest viewership in the country and in the region. Okasha was born...
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Video
Youth activists face trial for Mohamed Mahmoud clashes
Abdullah Mohamed Hani Zaher, 23, hopes for a fair trail as state prosecutors build their case...
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Photos

Mohamed Ali Mosque, in Salah Eddin Castle, Cairo, 18 July 2012.
Murals show scenes from 25 January revolution in Tahrir Square, Cairo, May 19,2012.
Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah and Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby arrive for the screening of "Baad El Mawkeaa" (After The Battle) presented in competiton at the 65th Cannes film festival, Cannes, May 17, 2012.
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Caricature

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Art
The Photoshopped image featuring President Hosni Mubarak.
Final Issue: ‘Crop’ challenges dominance of state-produced photos
This piece was written for Egypt Independent’s final weekly print edition...
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Book
Fans wait to see actors from the Harry Potter films at the opening of the Warner Brothers Studio Tour- The Making of Harry Potter near Watford north London March 31, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Luke MacGregor  
Rare "Harry Potter" first edition fetches record auction price
A unique first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone...
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History
A little girl reciting Quran in Ramadan at a corner in a mosque. In Egypt, in the morning, commuters going to work, college, or school – even housewives taking public transportation – recite Quran during commuting journey, long or short. As breakfast approaches, people turn to radios and listen to most popular Quran recitations until call for Maghreb. Over holidays, such as in Fridays, families go to mosques early on in order to mention Allah and recite Quran until call for prayer is raised.  Often, a group of prayers would make a circle and recite Quran in succession. Over years, reciting Quran has grown into a nationwide competitions in many Musilm countries in which competitors, usually young, covet for a recognition and a money prize.
Azhar aims to recover Quran manuscript
Egypt's Al-Azhar institute said on Thursday that legal measures were...
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Cinema
  The film tells the story of Egyptian skateboarding through the voice of the Herrawi brothers.
A new film documents Egypt’s emerging skateboarding scene
ALEXANDRIA — Lurking in the shadows of the many shoddy post-revolution...
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