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Where Is It Headed? Deciphering Egyptian Current Affairs

From December 09, 2013 until December 11, 2013

Conference given by Khaled Khamissi and Bassem Sabry.

The socio-political scene of the most populated country in the Arab world is troubling. After euphoric times in Tahrir Square in 2011, the fall of Mubarak and the beginning of a transition that has not gone smoothly –including the forced removal of Mohammad Morsi five months ago—, in the year of 2013 there has been a return to autocratic practices and human rights violations. A road map has been established, but many have doubts about how it was designed and how it will be executed.

Given this state of instability and uncertainty, one must ask what direction the country is headed towards under the current interim government. What role is played at this critical time by the media, political parties, civil society, international powers and the so-called “deep State?”

This conference is being given by two active mediators in Egyptian civil society, Khaled Khamissi (a novelist, writer, producer and director) and Bassem Sabry (a political analyst and media consultant). Both of them will attempt to decipher the signals which make is possible to envisage future scenarios for Egypt, on the basis of current events.

Participating in this event, in a conversation with Khaled Khamissi and Bassem Sabry, are Nuria Tesón (a journalist and writer) and Karim Hauser (who is responsible for the Casa Árabe Governance Program).

The conference, organized by Casa Árabe with the cooperation of the French Institute of Madrid, is taking place at 7:00 p.m. in our auditorium (at Calle Alcalá, 62) on December 10, 2013. Free entry until the event’s capacity is reached. In Arabic with simultaneous translation.

Khaled Khamissi (Cairo, 1962)

A novelist, writer, producer and director, Mr. Khamissi is currently a columnist for the newspaper Al-Shorouk. He has writer two novels: Taxi (2007) and Noah’s Ark (2009). His books have been translated into more than ten languages. He holds a university degree in Political Science from the University of Cairo and a Master’s degree in Foreign Policy from the Sorbonne.

Bassem Sabry (Cairo, 1982)

A political analyst and media consultant, Mr. Sabry’s writings have appeared in various publications in English, such as Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, Hurriyet Daily News and the portal Al-Monitor. He has also been published in important Egyptian dailies, including Al-Masry al-Youm, Al-Shorouk and Al-Tahrir. Mr. Sabry has also been a political advisor to the Constitution Party and the National Salvation Party.

Nuria Tesón (Zamora, 1980)

A journalist and writer, Ms. Tesón has worked for many Spanish media in Madrid, and since 2009 she has resided in Egypt as an independent journalist, where she covered events in the revolution for El País, Cadena Ser, Cuatro and RCN Noticias, as well as others.