February 11, 2011

Los Angeles Times: “A Second Chance For Democracy In Egypt"

The Los Angeles Times published an opinion column by MPAC Senior Adviser Dr. Maher Hathout on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Dr. Hathout discussed his past experience as a young college student protesting in the streets of Cairo, Egypt, 60 years ago, and how that compares to today’s protests and turmoil.

“Half a century ago, I was part of a human flood surging through the streets of Cairo. It was March 1954, and we had poured out of the university gates intending to cross the bridge of Qasr el Nil and meet up with other protesters for a massive demonstration outside the official presidential palace in Abdin Square.”

Bloomberg News: “Ottaway, Hussein Interview About Egypt Protests, Mubarak”

On Bloomberg News’ “Bottom Line,” Mark Crumpton spoke with MPAC’s Yasmin Hussein and Marina Ottaway, director of the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about the political protests in Egypt.

"They’ve reached a point of no return, and they are definitely just waiting for (President Hosni Mubarak) to step down now and not tomorrow,” Hussein said. “I think right now the people are not concerned about foreign issue, they are concerned about if they can pay their meal the next day and pay for their child’s education.” 

Associated Press: “Muslims Seek Change in Their Hollywood Story” 

 The Associated Press published an article about MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau and its upcoming screenwriters’ workshop, while also highlighting the work it has done for the past 20 years. Founded after Sept. 11, 2001, the Hollywood Bureau has a simple strategy to make sure the portrayal of Islam on TV screens is accurate. Since then, it has consulted on hit TV shows, such as "24," ''Bones," ''Lie to Me," ''7th Heaven," ''Saving Grace" and "Aliens in America."

“After years of watching Muslims portrayed as terrorists in mainstream TV and movies, an advocacy group hopes to change that image by grooming a crop of aspiring Muslim screenwriters who can bring their stories — and perspective — to Hollywood.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council is hosting a series of workshops taught by Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated veterans over the next month, an initiative that builds on the group's outreach for a more representative picture of Muslim-Americans on the screen.”

Al-Jazeera English: Dr. Maher Hathout Talks about Egpyt

MPAC Senior Adviser Dr. Maher Hathout speaks about the Egypt and the future of the nation on Al-Jazeera English.

“The Egyptian people feel that the U.S. is ready to sacrifice Mubarak but not the regime. And I hope as it is a turning point in Egyptian history, it is a turning point in American foreign policy. We should train ourselves to deal with the people not the dictators. And I hope that these repeated experiences push us, America, in this more mature.”

-- Marium F. Mohiuddin (marium@mpac.org)
Communications Coordinator