''Al Ahali'', also known as ''Al Ahaly'', (
Arabic: ''The Masses'') is an Arabic daily newspaper published in Cairo, Egypt. The paper has been in circulation since 1978 and is the official media outlet of the
National Progressive Unionist Party
History and profile
''Al Ahali'' was first published in February 1978.
It is the organ of the National Progressive Unionist Party
[ which is also the publisher of the daily. The founder of both the paper and the party was ]Khalid Mohieddin
Khaled Mohieddine ( arz, خالد محيى الدين, ; August 17, 1922 – May 6, 2018) was an Egyptian revolutionary, politician, and military officer. As a member of the Free Officers Movement, he participated in the toppling of King Farouk ...
. Dilip Hiro who is an expert on Middle Eastern, Islamic, and central Asian affairs argues that ''Al Ahali'' is much more popular than the National Progressive Unionist Party. In 1989 ''Al Ahali'' sold nearly 100,000 copies.
Political stance and bans
''Al Ahali'' has a leftist stance and was the major critic of the Sadat rule. Immediately after its start the paper was temporarily shut down by the Egyptian government
The politics of Egypt are based on republicanism, with a semi-presidential system of government. The current political system was established following the 2013 Egyptian military coup d'état, and the takeover of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. ...
. In addition, it came across numerous bans, and its offices were attacked by the Egyptian forces during the Sadat rule. Its critical approach continued during the rule of Hosni Mubarak, Sadat's successor.
Content and contributors
''Al Ahali'' was critical of Iranian ruler Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ( fa, محمدرضا پهلوی, ; 26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980), also known as Mohammad Reza Shah (), was the last ''Shah'' (King) of the Imperial State of Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow in the Irani ...
.[ The paper is the sole Egyptian publication which correctly interpreted the mass demonstrations in Iran in 1978 predicting that these demonstrations were the forerunner of the revolution.][ The daily was among twelve newspapers protested the Islamist-drawn constitution in December 2012.
Rifaat El Saeed, chairman of the National Progressive Unionist Party, published many articles in the paper which mostly included criticisms over the violation of the rights of the Copts in Egypt. Mahmud Al Muraghi is one of the former editors-in-chief of the daily who resigned from the office on 25 October 1989. Farida Nakash also served in the post.]
References
External links
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1978 establishments in Egypt
Arabic-language newspapers
Censorship in Egypt
Daily newspapers published in Egypt
Newspapers established in 1978
Newspapers published in Cairo
Liberalism in Egypt