Alaa Al Aswany

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Alaa al-Aswany (Arabic: علاء الأسواني, alternative spelling: Ala' el-Aswani, May 26, 1957-) is a dentist, a writer, and a founder of the Egyptian Movement for Change or Kefaya (Enough!) movement. He is also "the Arab World’s best-selling novelist”.[1] He was born in Cairo, Egypt.[2]
Alaa al-Aswany (Source: The Guardian)

He is married and has three children.


Contents

Family and Education

Alaa al-Aswany's mother, Zainab, came from an aristocratic family; her uncle was a Pacha and Minister of Education before the Free Officers’ coup d’état in 1952.[3] His father, Abbas al-Aswany, was from Aswan[4] and was a lawyer and writer who “is remembered as [being] a captivating and charismatic speaker with a broad following and loyalty within a cross-section of the Egyptian revolutionary intelligentsia”. Abbas al-Aswany “wrote a regular back-page essay in the Egyptian weekly magazine Rose al-Youssef entitled Aswaaniyat”[5]. In 1972, he was “the recipient of the state award for literature”.[6] He died when Alaa was nineteen years old.[7]

Alaa al-Aswany attended Le Lycée Français in Cairo and studied dentistry in Cairo University. He went on to pursue a master's degree in dentistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1985. Al-Aswany currently runs a dental practice in Cairo.[8] He speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish.[9]


Career

Alaa al-Aswany writes regularly for the newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm. In 2010, al-Aswany was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims for arts and culture.[10] In that same year, he was nominated for the 2010 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award”[11] for his 2007 novel Chicago.[12] In 2011, Alaa al-Aswany also received the Blue Metropolis Al Majdi Ibn Daher Literary Prize.[13]

As a secularist and liberal,[14] Alaa al-Aswany was opposed to the Mubarak regime for a very long time and has been a strong advocator of democracy. His resentment for the regime is evident in his novels, particularly Yacoubian Building, in which he exposes the corruption of Majlis al-Sha’b (the People’s Council) through one of his characters, a candidate who buys votes.

Alaa al-Aswany is also a founding member of the Kefaya movement, which was established in 2004. The word was “an all-purpose message to Mr. Mubarak: enough of dictatorship” and “enough of the president’s maneuvering to place his son Gamal in position to succeed him”.[15] Kefaya is a “grassroots democratic opposition movement”[16] that includes Ayman Nur’s al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Party and several nationalist and Islamist groups. The movement’s initial list of demands included the lifting of the emergency law, the “liberalization of restrictions on the formation of political parties and newspapers, and the release of thousands of political prisoners”.[17] From the beginning, Kefaya has been dedicated to political reform, democracy, the drafting of a new constitution and its members held regular demonstrations to achieve these ends. And from the beginning, Alaa al-Aswany has claimed that “a shift of power is the only solution, the only way out for this country.” [18]

An avid writer, Alaa al-Aswany is best known for his controversial and confrontational approach in writing. His most famous work, Yacoubian Building, was published in 2002[19]and was translated into twenty-four languages worldwide. The novel is “the Arab world’s highest-selling book ever”[20] and “paints a poignant and uncompromising picture of life in modern Cairo, as seen through the eyes of a carnival of characters-from richest and most powerful to the poorest”.[21]

In 2006, the novel was adapted into “the biggest budget movie ever produced in Egypt”.[22] The movie was screened at international film festivals and was a huge hit in Egypt. However, Alaa al-Aswany was banned from attending the premiere.[23] Yacoubian Building is one of a few movies that addresses social taboos and widespread governmental corruption, such as the rigging of elections. In fact, many intellectuals believe that this work played a crucial role in triggering revolutionary sentiments among the Egyptian people. Alaa al-Aswany claims that during the 25 January 2011 revolution, many protesters approached him and said “We are here because of what you wrote."[24] And in 2007, Yacoubian Building was made into a television series.

In October 2010, “the Israel/Palestine Centre for Research and Information (IPCRI) said it was offering its Hebrew readers the rare privilege of reading a best-selling Egyptian novel”. While Alaa al-Aswany refused for the book to be translated into Hebrew and published in Israel, “a volunteer had translated it” and the IPCRI wanted to “offer it for free to expand cultural awareness and understanding in the region.” Al-Aswany was deeply frustrated by this, as he rejected the idea of "normalizing with Israel", and accused the IPCRI and the translator of piracy and theft. Consequently, he complained to the International Publishers’ Association.[25]


Involvement in the Revolution

Alaa al-Aswany "was in Tahrir (Liberation) Square each of the 18 days before Mubarak fell from power.”[26] In fact, he was “one of the few prominent faces” of the leaderless revolution. Following Mubarak’s resignation, Alaa al-Aswany confronted the Mubarak-appointed Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq on live television. Shafiq “lost his temper under persistent grilling by the novelist,” and it was the first time for Egyptians to witness “a ruler dressed down so severely by a civilian in public.” Shafiq was "fired by the generals” shortly after.[27]

The novelist recently published a book entitled On the State of Egypt which was “published just before the onset of political unrest”. It “was re-launched post-revolution with an introduction written from Tahrir (Liberation) Square.”[28] The book is comprised of a collection of “45 articles, written between February 2005 and December 2010”[29] that were “published by El Aswany in El Shorouk and El Dostour newspapers”. The book offers “an insightful look at some of Egypt’s political and social problems, some of which remain relevant even after February 11th as Egypt moves into a new era of rapid change.”[30] Reviewers say that Alaa al-Aswany “links together poverty and fundamentalism, disenfranchisement and attacks on women, Western stability and election rigging, religious piety and torture”.[31] The book “shed[s] a considerable amount of light on the factors that underpinned the January 25th revolution” and also “covers current events and issues which we see as crucial for Egypt’s progress”. Maintaining his loyalty to the democratic cause, al-Aswany’s conclusion at the end of each article “is the same: Democracy is the solution.”[32]

In November 2011, Al-Aswany made it into Foreign Policy's annual list of 100 men and women who influence the world, along with political activist Wa'il Ghunaym. In his interview with Foreign Policy, al-Aswany said that the revolution changed Egyptians for the better, "Egyptians are no longer the Egyptians who were ruled by Mubarak. When you overcome the barrier of fear, you become a better person -- a much better person, as a matter of fact -- and it is irreversible.”[33]


One Year on

One year after the initial mass protests in Egypt in 2011, Alaa al-Aswany maintained that people will continue to revolt and protest until they see that the criminals are brought to justice. He was very frustrated by the lack of initiative of those in power: "Nothing happened. Now we have the security state working at full power. Drug dealers have infiltrated the square. The thugs then suddenly disappeared when the elections came. You don't have to be intelligent to know that these thugs are still under instructions. They disappear for elections and now they are returning." He was even more incredulous because of the corruption that was still rampant within the ministry of interior. He said, "Documents were published in Tahrir newspaper which included a letter from a security official to his superior saying that 'We now have on duty in Cairo 69,000 thugs' – this is after the revolution [sic]. Of course, the Minister of the Interior denied this".[34]

Al-Aswany is currently working on a new book: The Automobile Club of Egypt.


References

  1. ↑ "Alaa Al Aswany,” guardian.co.uk, accessed 17 May 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/alaa-al-aswany
  2. ↑ Rachel Cooke, “The Interview,” guardian.co.uk – The Observer, 31 May 2009, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/may/31/alaa-al-aswany-interview
  3. ↑ “One on One – Alaa Al Aswany – Feb 13 – Part 1,” YouTube, uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish, accessed 14 May 2011, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Mo4aHlTCc
  4. ↑ Rachel Cooke, “The Interview”
  5. ↑ Adel Iskandar, “Book Reviews: Chicago A Novel by Alaa Al Aswany,” Alaa Al Aswany Maktoob Blog, 25 September 2009, accessed 24 May 2011, http://alaaalaswany.maktoobblog.com/1618031/book-reviewschicago-a-novel-by-alaa-al-aswany/
  6. ↑ Rachel Cooke, “The Interview”
  7. ↑ “One on One – Alaa Al Aswany, "YouTube"
  8. ↑ Rachel Cooke, “The Interview”
  9. ↑ Bio of Alaa Al Aswani,” World Affairs Journal, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/new/blogs/bios/aswany/bio-aswany.html
  10. ↑ The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, The 500 Most Influential Muslims 2010 (The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, 2010), pg 155, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.rissc.jo/docs/0A-FullVersion-LowRes.pdf
  11. ↑ “Alaa Al Aswany’s Chicago Nominated for Literary Award,” The AUC Press e-Newsletter, April 2011, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.aucpress.com/t-eNewsletter-AlaaAlAswany.aspx?template=template_enewsletter
  12. ↑ Alaa Al-Aswany,” Wikipedia, accessed 17 May 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaa_Al_Aswany
  13. ↑ Leila Marshy, “Blue Met: Alaa Al Aswany’s Back Story to a Revolution,” The Gazette, 22 April 2011, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Alaa+Aswany+backstory+revolution/4661533/story.html
  14. ↑ Matthew Kaminski, “The Face of Egypt’s Uprising,” The Wall Street Journal, 13 April 2011, accessed 24 May 2011, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703385404576258603352822070.html
  15. ↑ “Kifaya in Egypt,” The Washington Post, 15 March 2005, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35379-2005Mar14.html
  16. ↑ Matthew Kaminski, “The Face of Egypt’s Uprising”
  17. ↑ “Kifaya in Egypt,” The Washington Post
  18. ↑ Pakinam Amer, “Kefaya Presents Reform Initiative to Parliament Intro: Fighting the Battle for a Peaceful Shift of Power in a Historic Tradition,” The Daily Star Egypt, 27 May 2006, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1679
  19. ↑ “Modern Arab Writers: Alaa al Aswani,” Al-Bab, accessed 17 May 2011, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/literature/aswani.htm
  20. ↑ "Bio of Alaa Al Aswani,” World Affairs Journal
  21. ↑ Karen Kostyal, “Alaa Al Aswany: Voice of Reason,” National Geographic, September 2006, accessed 17 May 2011, http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0609/voices.html
  22. ↑ Karen Kostyal, “Alaa Al Aswany: Voice of Reason”
  23. ↑ Rachel Cooke, “The Interview”
  24. ↑ Matthew Kaminski, “The Face of Egypt’s Uprising”
  25. ↑ “Israeli Translation of Egyptian Novel Infuriates Author,” Agence France-Presse. Hosted by Google, 28 October 2010, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_i6EiD7vtTEDvpp-uKAqO0L9VpQ?docId=CNG.c8806b0465005156c3ed4b83c649cb5d.7d1
  26. ↑ Matthew Kaminski, “The Face of Egypt’s Uprising”
  27. ↑ Matthew Kaminski, “The Face of Egypt’s Uprising”
  28. ↑ Nour Motawa, “Alaa Al Aswany: On the State of Egypt,” Cairo 360, accessed 24 May 2011, http://www.cairo360.com/article/books/1573/alaa-al-aswany-on-the-state-of-egypt/
  29. ↑ Leila Marshy, “Blue Met: Alaa Al Aswany’s Back Story to a Revolution”
  30. ↑ Nour Motawa, “Alaa Al Aswany: On the State of Egypt”
  31. ↑ Leila Marshy, “Blue Met: Alaa Al Aswany’s Back Story to a Revolution”
  32. ↑ Nour Motawa, “Alaa Al Aswany: On the State of Egypt”
  33. ↑ Anup Kaphle. "Egyptian novelist Alaa al-Aswany tops Foreign Policy magazine’s ‘top 100 global thinkers." Washington Post. November 28, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/egyptian-novelist-alaa-al-aswany-tops-foreign-policy-magazines-top-100-global-thinkers/2011/11/28/gIQAH8ZY5N_blog.html Accessed February 5, 2012
  34. ↑ Robert Fisk. "Alaa al-Aswany: 'Overthrowing Mubarak was too good to be true." The Independent. December 12, 2011. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/alaa-alaswany-overthrowing-mubarak-was-too-good-to-be-true-6275801.html Accessed February 5, 2012


Other References

Al Aswany, Alaa. "What Do We Expect From the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists?" Huffington Post. January 1, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alaa-al-aswany/what-do-we-expect-from-th_b_1245072.html Accessed February 5, 2012.

Hassan, Bahi. "Alaa al-Aswani: Ma`rakatna Al'an Azl Shafik Aw Muqata`a Shamila lil-Intikhabat". Al-Masry al-Youm. May 30, 2012. http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/880491 Accessed June 5, 2012.

Hassan, Bahi. "Alaa al-Aswani: Mursi Sayakhsar al-Ri'asa Hatta Law Hasal ala Aswat al-Sha`b bi-Akmalih". Al-Masry al-Youm. May 29, 2012. http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/878096 Accessed June 5, 2012.

Steavenson, Wendell. "Writing the Revolution." The New Yorker. January 16, 2012. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_steavenson#ixzz1lSY1TpkT Accessed February 5, 2012.

"The FP Interview: Alaa Al Aswany." Foreign Policy. November 28, 2011. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/11/28/interview_alaa_al_aswany Accessed February 5, 2012.


Resources

Alaa al-Aswany's Blogs: http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blogs/alaa-al-aswany and http://alaaalaswany.maktoobblog.com/

Al-Aswany's articles for al-Shorouk newspaper: http://shorouknews.com/columns/alaa-el-aswany

Retrieved from "http://wiki.aucegypt.edu/isqatalnizam/index.php?title=Alaa_Al_Aswany&oldid=2694"
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