In a dictatorship, independent journalism, by default, becomes a form of activism, and the spread of information is essentially an act of agitation.
I’m an Egyptian journalist and scholar-activist from Cairo. Over the years, I’ve dedicated my work to documenting Egypt’s political and social struggles, focusing on the country’s security apparatus. My work explores the intersection of power, repression, and resistance in one of the region’s most complex and pivotal states.
In 2011, I was honored to receive the Anna Politkovskaya Courage in Journalism Award, for my reporting on the Egyptian uprising.
I completed my PhD in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin in 2023, writing my dissertation on the evolution of the Egyptian repressive apparatus after the 2013 military coup. This is the subject of my book with Verso, out in May 2026.
Why Subscribe?
Whether you’re a researcher, academic, activist, policy-maker, or just someone passionate about Middle Eastern politics, State & Barracks is your resource for staying informed and ahead of the curve.
When you subscribe to State & Barracks, you’ll receive:
• Weekly Newsletter: I deliver exclusive updates, analyses, and reports every Monday on Egypt’s political establishment, police, intelligence service, and military.
• Military History: I publish pieces on Thursdays about Egyptian military history, based on research through press archives, memoirs, and interviews with pundits.
• Book Reviews and Podcast: Occasionally, I publish reviews of books I find interesting, in addition to an audio podcast episode on Egyptian current affairs and beyond.
