Mona Eltahawy

Mona Eltahawy

Egyptian-American journalist

Mona Eltahawy is an award-winning Egyptian-American journalist. She wrote a weekly column for the Saudi-owned international Arab publication Asharq Al-Awsat before her articles were discontinued for being “too critical” of the Egyptian regime. Since the Arab Uprising, she has been featured prominently in broadcast and print for major networks such as ABC, CBS, PBS, HBO, and The New York Times. Newsweek magazine listed her as one of its “150 Fearless Women of 2012,” and Arabian Business magazine listed her among the “100 Most Powerful Arab Women.” She received the Women’s Media Center Speaking Truth to Power Award in 2014. After writing a controversial column for Foreign Policy on widespread misogyny in the Middle East called “Why do They Hate Us?” she published a book based on the same topic called “Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution.” Eltahawy later published “The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls” and “This Arab is Queer.” In 2018, she spearheaded the #MosqueMeToo campaign, which shed light on female worshippers speaking up about sexual abuse experienced on the Hajj.

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Mona's Talks

Related Talks

Faisal Al Mutar speaking at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum

From Civil War to Civil Discourse

Faisal Al Mutar | 2024 OFF in Oslo
Jack Dorsey & Lyn Alden speaking at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum

The Power of Open Source

Lyn Alden, Jack Dorsey  | 2024 OFF in Oslo
Anastasia Shevchenko speaking at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum

Enough of Him

Anastasia Shevchenko | 2024 OFF in Oslo
Gaza: What Happens Next? panel at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum

Gaza: What happens Next?

Hilde Sandvik, Espen Barth Eide, Ambassador Marie Antoinette Sedin, Gershon Baskin, Mustafa Barghouti | 2024 OFF in Oslo

Mona's Books

Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution

Mona Eltahawy
This Arab is Queer (2022)

This Arab is Queer

Mona Eltahawy

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