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The women are part of an ascending community that has gained a higher profile after waves of recent immigration.
Six Arab women were honoured Saturday by their peers for their work in the community and in business.
“It really is a great opportunity to educate people,” said Asma Al-wahsh, founder of the non-profit Canadian Arab Women’s Association. The association named six Women of the Year in part to challenge stereotypes that immigrant women do not contribute.
Noura Alkhiwled was celebrated for “rocking it on the work floor” as a woman in the workforce. Ansam Shafi was recognized for her community leadership.
Hiba Al Zaben has made a name for herself in a science-related field that is dominated by men. Bahiyye Ahram owns a business and is an exceptional entrepreneur.
Yasmin Haloubi was honoured for making a difference in Guelph. Amina Ismail is a future leader, recognized as an example of the next generation of Arab women.
These Arab women are part of an ascending Arab community that is gaining a higher profile after waves of recent immigration. The community was little known a generation ago, but is now big enough to hold its first Middle Eastern festival last month in Kitchener.
Arabic has surged to become the No. 3 foreign language spoken around dinner tables at home in this region, the 2021 census has found. It has surpassed German and trails Chinese languages and Punjabi.
Growth over a decade has been “really huge,” Al-wahsh said. She came to Canada in 2012 and sees this region as a magnet for Canadian Arabs who are relocating from other cities and provinces.
It’s the second time the women’s association has honoured women of the year. The ceremony was held in west Kitchener at the Portuguese Club.
From left: Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Amina Ismail (celebrated as a future leader), and Asma Al-wahsh, founder of the Canadian Arab Women’s Association .Peaceful Films
This January, Saudi racer Reem Al Aboud set a new acceleration benchmark for an FIA single-seater by reaching 0-60mph in 2.49 seconds in an ABB FIA Formula E GENBETA car. Ahead of International Women’s Day, we reflect on the implications of this achievement for motorsport.
Every Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-sanctioned single-seater championship race begins with a standing start. The lights at the starting line flash on, and flash off. Idle cars roar to life, accelerating through the straight and into the waiting corner.
How quickly these cars can accelerate depends on the series. F1 Academy goes from zero to 60mph in approximately 3.6 seconds. Formula 3 and Formula 2 manage in 3.1 and 2.9, respectively. Formula E’s GEN3 car takes 2.8. The current Formula 1 car takes 2.64.
But F1’s 2.64 seconds is no longer the benchmark. Now, Formula E’s newly developed GENBETA car holds the title — and with a woman in the cockpit.
Last July, Formula E unveiled its GENBETA prototype at the ExCeL London. While testing the car, World Champion Jake Hughes clinched a top speed of 218.71km/h, smashing the Guinness World Record for fastest speed indoors by more than 50km/h.
Having designated GENBETA as its development platform, Formula E sought to explore the model’s potential and performance further. The series set its sights on setting a second benchmark: the time an FIA single-seater takes to reach 0-60mph.
Yet in chasing after the F1 benchmark, Formula E was not content with breaking only technological and physical barriers. So, to honour its founding commitment to social progress, it added motorsport’s longstanding gender barrier as yet another to break.
Accordingly, Formula E tapped 23-year-old Saudi female racer Reem Al Aboud to take the GENBETA’s driver seat. The 2023 Saudi Toyota Ladies Cup Champion has partnered with the series since 2018, when she became the first Saudi woman to test a Formula E car.
Experienced in driving GEN2 and GEN3 cars — plus breaking barriers across karting, hillclimbing and autocross series — Reem was Formula E’s choice for a 2024 FIA Girls on Track Ambassador. Naturally, she was their choice for the GENBETA test as well.
And that choice certainly paid off. This January at Dirab Motor Park, Reem’s GENBETA car achieved 0-60mph in 2.49 seconds — besting F1’s by 0.15 seconds.
Of course, the technological aspect of the January test is remarkable. Behind GENBETA’s new benchmark is its front powertrain kit, which previous Formula E models (and other road electric vehicles) only use for energy harvesting. However, GENBETA also turns on this kit for greater traction during acceleration, using it to produce 536 horsepower that will launch the car into action. Instant torque allows for instant acceleration and thus a 2.49-second 0-60mph time.
What’s also remarkable is that a woman is the face of this test.
After all, motorsport’s gender barrier is cyclical. Doubt that female drivers can perform on par with their male counterparts dominates the sport. Doubtful investors shy away from funding young female drivers. Underfunded female drivers can’t enter, remain and progress through racing series. Series sorely lack female representation — when representation is what validates the reality that women can indeed perform. That lack of validation perpetuates the doubt about female drivers. And so, the cycle continues.
But Reem’s benchmark throws a wrench into this cycle by tackling the doubt head-on. She reaffirms that when women are given the time on track they are so often denied, they can excel. That when women are included in the conversation, they can contribute to the technological developments that push this sport forward. That when this sport values women, women can bring equal — if not more — value to the sport in turn.
As the face of this test, Reem represents the generations of women who have been denied from motorsport on the basis of their gender. Of women who challenge prejudice in cockpits, paddocks and audiences. Of girls who see Reem on their screens and wonder if they, too, can wrestle state-of-the-art cars at inhuman speeds.
Reem breaks the cycle by showing them that they can, and that they should.
In doing so, she and Formula E bring motorsport a step closer to a new era. One where women are no longer the exception, but the standard.
About 34 million years ago, in the Eocene period of the Paleogene (the period from 66 to 23 million years ago), and in a tropical-like environment with forests and swamps in what is today the Qatrani Desert in Egypt’s Fayoum Depression, a genus of rodents that was not known before, used to live.
In a new study published in PeerJ, researcher Shorouk Al-Ashqar, a member of the “Sallam Lab” team specialised in vertebrate fossils at Mansoura University, studied two skulls and a large group of mandibles of fossils belong to the “Qatranimys Safroutus”.
“But it wasn’t easy; the samples were very small and very thin and adhered to the solid rocky clay, which made preparing the samples for study very difficult. We had to make accurate CT scans to be able to study them in a three-dimensional image,” said Hesham Sallam, the lead author of the study.
The newly discovered genus of rodents was called “Qatranimys Safroutus” which refers to the location of the discovery in the first word, whilst “safroutus” means too small in the Egyptian Arabic dialect.
The length of the molar of Qatranimys Safroutus was one millimetre, and its skull was about 1.5 centimetres long, and its weight did not exceed 45 grams.
Jebel Qatrani Formation is famous for its rich rodent assemblages from the Eocene–Oligocene deposits, which contributes to enhancing our understanding of the origin and paleobiogeography of what scientists call the “Hystricognathi” which are an infraorder of rodents, distinguished from other rodents by the bone structure of their skulls.
Al-Ashqar said that the samples used in the study showed clear differences in the morphological characteristics of the upper and lower teeth. And by comparing these samples with the discovered rodents from Afro-Arabia, it was clear that it belongs to a new genus that has never been discovered before.
“We did not only record a new genus and species, but we were able to record the first bones of the skull of a large group to which the discovery belongs, called the “Phiocricetomys”, she added.
Researchers from Mansoura University, the American University in Cairo, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Duke University and the University of Salford participated in the study.
In an exclusive interview with Morocco World News, Soufiane Choubani, a leader in the Moroccan debate community on local and international stages, shares his story and vision for his robust debate community, the first of its kind in the country.
In 2014, Soufiane Choubani established the Morocco Debate Association (MDA) – a non-profit that is the first of its kind in the country.
Today, a little over a decade, the MDA continues to make groundbreaking history both at home and abroad – with one of its teams, the Atlas Lions of Debate, set to compete in the world’s biggest debating championship in Panama this year.
Soufiane Choubani : The driving force behind the Moroccan Debate Association
Soufiane, who founded both the MDA and the Moroccan National Debate Team (MNDT), is a former professor who holds a Master’s in Higher Education from Kean University in New Jersey. The driving force behind Morocco’s inaugural national debate team’s success, Soufiane is also the author of the book, “The Magic of Motivation”, and an international debate coach.
In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Soufiane talked about the origin story of the debate team.
“In 2013, we Moroccans were feeling very ambitious after and with the on-going Arab Spring. I wanted to help the situation but I was just an introverted English teacher who barely went out,” he said.
“At the same time, my teams were winning local championships in Morocco back-to-back. So I got the idea (that) if I could form a national debate team and have them compete in the world championship and do well, that would inspire more people in North Africa to learn debating and feel confident to compete with the best in the world. That’s how the MNDT was born.” Soufiane Choubani told MWN.
Soufiane’s personal journey with debate began at a young age.
“I was introduced to debating in my American high school and I saw first-hand how it benefited me in my academic and personal life. So, when I had the chance to spread this in Morocco, I didn’t miss the opportunity” Soufiane told MWN
Over the years, Soufiane has acquired a wealth of competitive debate experience that deeply informs the MDA’s debating strategies. His firsthand experience with international debating competitions has provided him with a unique perspective on what it takes to be outstanding in debate.
His approach extends beyond traditional debate training, embracing a holistic development of debaters that prepares them not only for competitions, but also for skilful engagement with complex global issues.
The legendary milestones of MDA
Under the dynamic leadership of Soufiane, the MDA has flourished, achieving success in both national and international arenas.
The Moroccan National Debate Team went on to become the first North African team in history to compete in the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC); also known as the world’s oldest high school debate tournament with teams representing over 60 different countries from five different continents.
When asked by MWN to share the most remarkable team achievement, Soufiane replied that it was winning the High School Parliamentary Debate World Congress back-to-back in 2021 and 2022, as well as winning the Best English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) University Debate in Africa award in 2023.
He also added to the list of his personal accomplishments teaching the quarterfinals of the 2024 Eurasian Schools Debating Championships.
More than debate teams: a community
Since becoming president, Soufiane has come up with many strategies and initiatives all aiming to achieve the success his association has reached so far.
Among the exciting learning experiences that the Moroccan Debate Association offers is a Moroccan youth debate camp. This summer program is open to both Moroccan and international students.
During this week-long program, participants are introduced to various public speaking formats, including debating, leadership and diplomacy, and Model United Nations (MUN) .
The camp provides lectures, exercises, workshops, and social activities and a tournament on the last day in order to put to use all the learned skills. The top three speakers are awarded prizes for their performance.
The success of MDA stems from the national coaching staff’s dedication and passion to actively contribute to the Moroccan debate community, enabling individuals to harness the power of words. As a result of dedicated volunteers, the MDA has provided public speaking and debating workshops to more than 800 Moroccans between 2014 and 2017.
Soufiane welcomes successful coaches from all over the world.
One such example is Ahmad Tousif Jami, an accomplished Bangladeshi champion debater in his own right, who is the head coach of the MDNT, set to participate in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) in Panama at the end of 2024.
Soufiane told MWN that one of his favorite MDA success stories is Alia Kafil , Morocco’s team captain for the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) 2020 to 2022. She was the first-ever North African to rank among the top 100 debaters, from a pool of over 400 international participants, at a WSDC. The skilled orator is now a student at Columbia University in New York City and is planning to compete in the WUDC in Panama.
MDA’spursuit of open social dialogueon pressing world issues
Soufiane’s debate community’s vision reaches out to even more than teaching debate, but also has initiatives that help communities in need and bring social awareness to world issues.
This Past April,the MNDT participated in an international online charity debating competition, “Free Palestine Debate Open”, that was organized by University of Ljubljana Debate Society.
The registration fees were collected for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), in an effort to increase awareness about the situation of Palestine. Additionally, the open-spaced forum at the end of the debate tournaments was meant to be a space of support for Palestinians and discussion around the challenges that this community faces.
In a note that stirred intensity, one of the debating motions in the competition was: “this house believes that the PA (Palestinian Authorities) should abolish itself, reinstating Israeli rule as the direct occupying power, until Palestinians achieve meaningful self-governance”.
Despite covering a sensitive topic involving international participants with diverse beliefs, debaters effectively succeeded in having a respectful –albeit heated – debate in which they demonstrated their skills including critical thinking and persuasive arguments.
Debaters on both sides of the motion admirably maintained personal neutrality in the face of such a challenging topic, mounting rational and robust arguments even while many hold strong personal views on the Israeli occupation.
Soufiane says that participating in such a debate promotes inclusivity, enabling debaters from diverse backgrounds to think critically about social issues, understand different points of view, and develop their ability to communicate and argue effectively in a respectful and rational way.
These skills, when shared and appreciated across the country, could help influence the development of a more thoughtful and conscientious society for all.
Due to the efforts from Soufiane, the MDA has been a beacon of personal growth for numerous Moroccans, providing an environment where all voices can be heard. Through its debates, workshops, and events, members have honed their critical thinking, public speaking, and argumentation skills.
When asked about his hopes for the future of Morocco Debating Association, Soufiane shared his vision to MWN. .
“My long-term goal for the association is to have the Moroccan National Debating Team (MNDT) officially funded by the Moroccan government so it becomes free for students to build a national institute of debating in English, Arabic, and Berber (Amazigh).”
Hear the stories of three Arab women engineers who are making an impact in STEM around the world.
Throughout April, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is honoring and recognizing the contributions of Arab women in engineering around the world. This effort aligns with Arab American Heritage Month, which is celebrated in April in the U.S.
Read on to meet three incredible Arab women who are living without limits, advancing SWE across the globe, inspiring others, and making a positive impact in their respective STEM fields.
Meet Dr. Ghada Salama
Welcome, Dr. Salama! Can You Share a Bit About Your Professional Background?
My professional journey for the past 20 years has been deeply rooted in academia, where I have dedicated my career to teaching and the pursuit of knowledge. Upon receiving my Ph.D., I embraced the academic path and am now an instructional professor.
What Inspired You to Choose Chemical Engineering as Your Career Path?
I wish I had an inspiring story to share with you, but my choice was a mix of personal passion and cultural influence. Growing up in a society where engineering and medicine were revered as prestigious fields to pursue, which required excelling in high school (which I did), I was under pressure to conform. So that is the story for the engineering part.
My love for chemistry made me choose chemical engineering. So, you can say I merged my passion for chemistry with the practicality of engineering.
You Have Won Numerous Awards in Your Academic Career, Including “Best Chemical Engineering Professor of the Year!” What Do You Enjoy the Most About Working in Academia?
The students, of course! There is something magical about that “aha” moment when you see that sparkle in their eyes. The dynamic environment of having new students every semester and the constant flow of fresh ideas and perspectives keeps me on my toes and fuels me.
As the Leader of the Texas A&M Qatar University SWE Affiliate, You Have Been Influential in Supporting Other Women in STEM! Can You Tell Us More About the Initiatives, Successes, or Accomplishments of This Affiliate?
As the advisor for our student SWE organization, our key initiative has been promoting engineering and fostering a strong sense of community and mentorship among the female engineering students here.
Throughout the years, the students have organized networking events and panel discussions featuring successful women in STEM fields, as well as men who are our strong allies from government and industry.
Another highlight is their involvement in outreach efforts to inspire the next generation of women in STEM. Six years ago, we established a student mentorship program at our university. With women forming almost 50% of our student engineering student body, we felt there was a need to start this initiative.
This peer mentoring program matches incoming female freshmen with upperclass female students to support their transition to university life. This is an accomplishment that SWE is proud of.
What Has Your Experience Been in Your Journey as a Woman in Engineering?
It has been quite the ride! Being a woman in a male-dominated field, especially in my region and culture, sometimes feels like being a unicorn in a field of horses — rare but magical.
Sure, there have been challenges along the way, but I have learned to embrace them as opportunities to defy stereotypes and prove that I can do these things and excel in them, too. With the support of my parents and colleagues, both male and female, it has been a good journey so far.
What Advice Do You Give to Women Who Are Thinking About Pursuing Engineering as a Career Path?
Believe in yourself! If engineering is what you want to do, then do it. Along the way, make sure you surround yourself with a support system — whether that is family, colleagues, or mentors.
Is There Anything Else You Would Like to Share With the SWE Community?
Let’s keep pushing boundaries, breaking stereotypes, and lifting each other up along the way. Together, we can build a future where every woman feels empowered to pursue her dreams.
Meet Dr. Marwa El Hefnawy
Welcome, Dr. El Hefnawy! Can You Share a Bit About Your Professional Background?
I am an electrical and communications engineering leader with expertise in 5G and AI. I received my bachelor’s degree in electrical and communications engineering, with highest honor, from the German University in Cairo. I completed my bachelor project at Stuttgart University in Germany, and then I pursued my master’s studies at Ulm University and received my Ph.D. degree from the Technical University of Munich.
I have 10+ years of work experience in the telecom industry, in areas such as systems engineering and architecture, research and development, strategy planning, project management, and wireless ecosystems.
I had worked at several giant tech companies, including Apple, Intel, NTT Docomo Euro Labs, and others, where my focus was on 5G topics and beyond.
I also joined academia for a short time as an assistant professor teaching engineering students how to transform ideas into innovation. Recently, I have been interested in consultancy where I am exposed to a variety of AI topics.
I am a global ambassador for SWE, a member of the WE Local Europe Advisory Board, and also a mentor at the Technical University of Munich for master’s and Ph.D. students.
What Inspired You to Choose Electrical and Communications Engineering as Your Career Path?
It started when I was in school. I loved mathematics and its various applications. Later on, I always had interesting questions in my mind — How do electrical signals flow in the air or in the wires? How are they being sent and received? What is behind the telephone?
Then, after mobile phones and wireless technology were highly evolved, I became even more interested in digging deeper into this technology. I didn’t want only to study this field, but to become an expert and have great achievements that upcoming generations will benefit from.
What Do You Enjoy the Most About Working in the Telecom Industry?
I really enjoy seeing a new product in the wireless domain come to life and seeing people start using it. Nowadays, it is not only about connecting people with a higher quality of connectivity, but also making people’s lives better and easier.
You cannot imagine how many components have been developed in these products from start to end and the tremendous amount of effort from the many engineers it takes to make this happen.
It is a challenging field, and whenever there is a new generation coming such as 5G or 6G, the challenges even get bigger. An engineer working in this industry is never bored, as you are solving something new all the time.
You Are a Longtime Global Ambassador for SWE, and You’re Also on the We Local Europe Advisory Board! Can You Share Why SWE’s Mission and Initiatives Are So Important to You?
Women in the engineering field face many challenges — whether they are juniors, seniors, in higher leadership roles, technical, non-technical, and so on. SWE’s mission is to empower women in this field and support them with the tools to help face these challenges.
In every SWE initiative, I learn something new which is added to my skill set. I believe that we live and we learn; at the same time, I can see that someone else in SWE’s community is learning something new from me. It is like a circle of help and support which never ends. Everyone in SWE’s big community finds inspiration and motivation whenever it is needed.
What Has Your Experience Been in Your Journey as a Woman in Engineering?
My journey has been full of ups and downs. It has never been a steady state. Whenever there is a down time, I don’t take it negatively. I take it as either a learning phase or a phase of strengthening myself for what is coming next.
Challenges happen all the time for women leaders in the engineering field — it is really a matter of how to face them. If I had one piece of advice to give, I would say it is great to have a good mentor supporting you in your career path.
What Advice Do You Give to Women Who Are Thinking About Pursuing Engineering as a Career Path?
Don’t be afraid of engineering! It can be a hard field, but if you like logical and innovative thinking and have good problem-solving skills, then you will enjoy your path. It is not life-ruining, and it will never be — it is just a matter of how to create a work-life balance that suits you.
It is always good to ask yourself, “What do you want to achieve, and what is your goal?” Your answer will guide you and boost your energy to proceed.
Is There Anything Else You Would Like to Share With the SWE Community?
As a woman, I don’t feel that I am alone in the engineering field as long as I am part of SWE. Also, I would like to thank the many SWE leaders who I have collaborated with on several events, initiatives, and SWE activities over the past years. Networking at SWE is a great opportunity to get to know talented and inspiring women leaders in engineering.
Meet Sara Ibrahim
Welcome, Sara! Can You Share a Bit About Your Professional Background?
I am a Middle Eastern IT professional with a passion for technology. I was born and raised in Egypt and am a mother of two amazing kids.
I achieved a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a main specialization in mathematics and computer algorithms in 2006. Shortly after, I accomplished my master’s degree in computer algorithms. Besides my college studies, I was enrolled in a one-year scholarship for system administration and integration.
I started my IT professional career in 2008 as a software developer, and shortly after that, I started working on system administration and application support. In 2014, I moved to Czechia to enlighten my career with international experience. Currently, I help clients design, architect, and migrate their IT systems.
What Has Your Experience Been in Your Journey as a Woman in Engineering?
My journey as a woman in IT has been both challenging and rewarding. The challenging side was the fact that I exerted double the efforts to achieve my current state — from early childhood onwards — as learning materials were not affordable in my society. Then, during college, engineering open seats were limited for girls.
On the other hand, the rewarding part happened when I accomplished a mid-senior career milestone in IT and passed the interview to the architect team. I became the first woman IT infrastructure architect in IBM Client Innovation Centre Czech Republic in 2018.
What Do You Enjoy the Most About Working in the Cloud and Infrastructure Space?
One of the most enjoyable aspects of being an IT architect, particularly as a woman, is breaking stereotypes and paving the way for more diversity in this industry. It’s empowering to showcase my skills, background, and expertise in a field that has traditionally been male-dominated.
As a woman in IT architecture, I bring a unique perspective and creativity for our clients, which can lead to innovative problem-solving and solutions. I receive plenty of positive feedback from my stakeholders and counterparts for the work I am delivering, as well as my communication skills.
What Advice Do You Give to Women Who Are Thinking About Pursuing Engineering as a Career Path?
Know your strength and believe in your abilities. For me, I was passionate about learning mathematics, and it opened plenty of doors towards my dream career.
Second, being a fast learner with passion always helped me, and I see that as very essential to succeed in a STEM career. For example, I taught myself Python during college in Egypt (in 2003 when the internet was very basic), simply out of a passion to learn how to code.
Finally, find mentors and supportive communities who will make you feel like you are not alone and who will give you tips and tricks to tackle your obstacles.
Is There Anything Else You Would Like to Share With the SWE community?
I appreciate SWE as a community that helps women in STEM pursue their careers by providing all means of online education. Thank you to SWE for bringing together a community of women role models for early career, mid-career, and late-career professionals!
The award-winning international correspondent talks frontline reporting, wearing the hijab on television, and how her personal connection to the Middle East makes her a better storyteller
In Autumn 2019, when Turkey launched its incursion into northern Syria, 23-year-old Nada Bashir packed her camera and flew to northern Iraq to cover the story. At the time she was a freelance producer for CNN in London “pretty fed up of constantly being on the Downing Street shift and covering Brexit. I knew I wanted to be in the Middle East but wasn’t perhaps experienced enough,” she says. “So I decided to just go by myself… I felt very passionate about what was happening and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.”
It was a bold decision – both her first solo story and first solo trip to a hostile environment – but the risk paid off. Just five years later, she is an award-winning international correspondent who has reported from the frontlines of the conflict in Yemen and the devastating 2023 earthquake in Turkey.
Now 28, Nada is speaking from her home in West London. She flew in yesterday from Cyprus where she was covering aid ships heading to Gaza, and she will likely be dispatched again imminently although she doesn’t know when or where. She’ll pack a book and headphones but otherwise, “it’s all tech gear, medical kit and body armour”.
Unpredictable as this career may be, it is one that she has dreamt of since she was a teenager, watching the Arab Spring unfold: “We were all glued to the TV, seeing what was happening across the Middle East and back home. That was the moment for me when I was like, ‘actually this is what I want to do’.”
Back home is Libya from where Nada’s family originate, although her parents – her father was an aircraft engineer and her mother is a nursery teacher – left before she was born. “My dad was a pro-democracy activist,” she says. “He spent more than 30 years essentially in exile…It was something that we were all aware of, something that we talked about a lot.” It meant that growing up in Brighton, on England’s south coast, “the news was constantly on” but Nada never considered that she might one day be on screen herself. The middle of five siblings, she was “very shy” at school: “I vividly remember being forced to do a presentation, feeling like I was about to faint and going red in the face. I never ever would have pictured myself doing this.”
But after becoming involved in student TV while studying Politics and East European Studies at University College London, securing the internship at CNN and impressing her editors with her story from northern Iraq, an on camera career beckoned. “I spent so much of my childhood consuming news about what was happening at home and a lot of it coming from Western networks. There were a lot of things where you watched it and felt like the story of your people, your region, wasn’t being told fairly, properly or accurately,” she says. “Still there are times when I watch coverage and it’s frustrating because there’s a real lack of understanding around some of the cultural dynamics.
Being Arab isn’t essential to reporting on the Middle East, she says, but it does break down barriers: “Just being able to speak to people in their language, understanding their culture… Having that connection has made me a better storyteller.” The stories she tells are often difficult ones and they stay with her – the elderly Syrian refugee who lost his family in the Turkish earthquake, the 11-year-old Moroccan girl who guided her around a makeshift burial ground after the earthquake there last September, the Palestinian teenager detained without charge in the West Bank. Reporting on the war in Gaza has been particularly poignant: “Talking about the Palestinian cause is something that no Arab person hasn’t done. That is part of our cultural identity in a sense. That history is interlinked with all of the Middle East.”
Within the first week of war breaking out, Nada was in Jordan and Oman covering anti-war protests. Since then she has reported from Lebanon and Egypt but it is her time in the occupied West Bank – her first visit there – that has been most affecting. “That was a part of the story that we felt was being completely overlooked,” she says. “It’s not a new story. Palestinians in the West Bank have been marginalised, treated as second class citizens for decades”. She describes this reporting as “the most challenging” of her career to date, finding her objectivity over such a “polarising” story called into question. “There are so many assumptions about where your personal views might lie because of your cultural or religious background,” she says. “I am a visibly Muslim woman. My name is Arab. It’s very clear where I’m from…But with a story like this, it’s very difficult not to feel like your journalism is being undermined by assumptions of where you might stand.”
Many of those assumptions come from the fact that Nada wears the hijab. When she first started at CNN, she was “apprehensive at first – working for an American network and what that might mean in terms of how I fitted into that. Thankfully it’s never been an issue.” Being on air though, “has been slightly different”. Most difficult was reporting from London on the anti-regime protests in Iran. “For me, it’s a personal choice. You should have the freedom to choose whether you wear it…Covering the story was very important to me but I had a lot of backlash because a lot of people couldn’t understand how I could cover that, as somebody who chooses to wear the hijab, given that many women there were risking their lives and being persecuted for choosing not to.” On the flip side, she has also received “so many” messages from young hijab-wearing women who also aspire to be journalists: “I know that feeling because I felt like whenever I saw somebody wearing a hijab on TV.”
Today she feels like that when she sees the wider Arab diaspora experience represented, like in American comedy-drama, Ramy: “You feel the connection to it… It’s a blend of cultures and that is something that we identify with.” And when so much of her own work focuses on amplifying the voices of those suffering great hardship, she is grateful that there is increasingly space to celebrate the Arab world. “It’s sad because I think growing up, the only thing you’d really hear about the Middle East was war or conflict or political issues,” she says. “And there’s so much more to the region. There’s so much history, so much culture, so many people doing incredible things in different industries. It’s nice to see those aspects being showcased now, in magazines, in TV, in film, in music. To see that actually there’s a different side to the region, which has always been there. It just hasn’t really been given the platform.”
What Nada truly hopes is that when things improve in the Middle East, she will be there to report on it: “I can only hope that at some point there will be a positive change and I will get to cover that as well.” For now though, she has her bags packed, ready to head wherever the story takes her next: “It’s extraordinary; it’s a privilege and I wouldn’t change it for the world”.
Images Supplied / From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s May 2024 Issue
The former Algerian middle-distance runner won her country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. She navigated a deadly and divisive political crisis within her nation to emerge as “a symbol of victory and defiance”.
Hassiba Boulmerka and her family received death threats, and she was even denounced as anti-Islam at her local mosque.
However, in her home country of Algeria, there was no safe space for her to run.
The world 1500m world champion feared that radical Islamist militants would kill her, and the surrounding atmosphere was equally terrifying.
But despite the risks, the ‘Constantine Gazelle’ continued to train, running even faster and defying the threats to her life.
A year after clinching the first of her two world titles, she made history at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, winning the first Olympic gold for Algeria .
Hassiba Boulmerka: Africa’s first world track champion
Running had been Boulmerka’s way of life since the age of 10.
Growing up in Constantine, in the east of Algeria, she gained recognition for her speed and stamina, which led her to claim four African gold medals in the 800m and 1500m.
Two years after her double triumph at the continental championships, she stunned the field, sprinting to the lead in the homestretch of the 1500m race to clinch the gold.
It was a glorious moment for Boulmerka, as she became the first African woman to earn a World Championships title.
“I screamed for joy and for shock, and for much more,” she said. “I was screaming for Algeria’s pride and Algeria’s history, and still more.”
Her triumph was significant, symbolising progress for Algerian sport and Arab women.
Despite the heroic reception that awaited her and her teammates upon their return from the 1991 World Championships, her running didn’t quite resonate with everyone.
Her sporting endeavours continued to be frowned upon.
Training and competing meant exposing her arms and legs, which was perceived as not adhering to Islam’s code of modesty.
Hassiba Boulmerka was labelled ‘anti-Muslim’ for choosing to run
Boulmerka pressed ahead, enduring the criticism.
She faced hostility, being spat on and having to dodge stones thrown at her while training on Algerian roads.
In a matter of months, her hopes and dreams of participating in the Olympics started to fade as her country was plunged into civil unrest, resulting in over 150,000 lives lost.
Training became not only impossible but also dangerous during the crisis, with Islamist militants seeking to impose oppressive rule.
She was forced to relocate to Berlin to train ahead of the 1992 Olympic Games.
“I remember it well,” she recalled in an interview with the BBC. “It was Friday prayers at our local mosque, and the imam said that I was not a Muslim, because I had run in shorts, shown my arms and my legs. He said I was anti-Muslim.”
When she arrived in Barcelona just before her event, Boulmerka was accompanied by armed escorts into the stadium, highlighting the unprecedented security measures.
“There were police everywhere. In the stadium, in the changing rooms – they even came with me to the bathroom!” she said.
Despite these challenges, the ‘Constantine Gazelle’, as she was affectionately dubbed for her agile and graceful running style, defied the odds and her performance at the Estádio Olímpico was remarkable.
Hassiba Boulmerka: A heroine for women in sport
The Unified Team’s Lyudmila Rogacheva set the pace for most of the 1500m race before the Algerian powered past her with half a lap to go, securing her greatest career victory. Her time of three minutes, 55.30 seconds earned her the Olympic gold medal, marking the second time second time an Arab woman had stood atop the Games podium (after Morocco’s Nawal El-Moutawakel at Los Angeles 1984).
It was a beautiful ending after months of navigating political challenges – an example of ‘courage in defying taboos and pursuing passion’.
“As I crossed the line, I thrust a fist into the air. It was a symbol of victory, of defiance. It was to say: ‘I did it! I won! And now, if you kill me, it’ll be too late. I’ve made history!'”
As Boulmerka stood on the podium, feeling the weight of the medal around her neck, she was overwhelmed by emotions.
“I tried to hold myself together, to be brave…but the tears just started to fall. They were tears of sacrifice, for all the people I loved that I had abandoned for this race.
“It was a triumph for women all over the world to stand up to their enemies. That’s what made me really proud.”
There was no fanfare when the two-time Olympian returned home to reunite with her family.
Algeria was still far away from the end of its dark period, prompting he exile in Cuba before she returned to Algeria after recapturing the gold medal at the 1995 World Championships.
Her medals stand as a testament to her courage, and Hassiba Boulmerka continues to serve as a beacon of inspiration for women in sport.
The pioneering Riyadh resident knocked out Egypt’s Nada Faheem at the inaugural edition of PFL MENA in Riyadh last week.
As her opponent lay defeated on the floor, the Saudi mixed martial arts fighter marked a landmark victory by waving an imaginary sword in the air.
The celebration was appropriate— Hattan Alsaif’s family name translates directly as “the sword.”
Overnight, Saudi had a new sporting superstar.
On May 10, the 22-year-old made headlines around the world after she knocked out Egypt’s Nada Faheem, delivering a head kick in the second round of their bout at the inaugural Professional Fighters League Middle East and North Africa edition in Riyadh.
Her win, she says, was also a message of love and commitment to her friends, family and fans.
“It [the win] was something I was so proud of,” Alsaif told Arab News. “To make them see how far I reached, and I was doing my best to show them that I will never let them down.”
The future of Saudi women in MMA has been brewing for some time. In February, Alsaif made history when she became the first female from the Kingdom to sign a contract with a major MMA promoter – the PFL, now backed by Saudi’s public investment fund.
Her performance at the Green Halls last week has raised her profile beyond her hometown or even the region. Alsaif is now an international contender.
She said representing Saudi Arabia “meant everything” to her: “I do love my country so much, and I wanted to represent my country in the best way I can.”
But behind the win were three months of relentless training — mental and physical — and even cage-like fights in her gym.
Alsaif is a relative newcomer to the sport. When she first began training in 2021, it was never part of the plan to turn professional.
“First five days I began boxing, I jumped in a championship, and I lost the game,” she said.
Alsaif took the loss as a wake-up call to shift her perspective.
“You have to work hard, you have to work more, so you can have what you want. So I got that point on my mind and I worked on it,” she said.
Alsaif’s appetite for risk and adrenaline rushes dates back to her school days when, she recalls, her late parents received numerous complaints about her behavior.
“They (the school) were always calling my parents. ‘Your kid is jumping from the classes and jumping from the roof and jumping everywhere’,” Alsaif said.
“I was (also) in love with hiking and I was so in love with the desert bikes.”
A fighting spirit feels almost inherited, considering the Kingdom’s own rich history.
“I was born in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia is my country. Saudi Arabia is in my blood,” she told Arab News.
“If I’m a girl from this city (Riyadh), that means I was born a fighter. I’m ready to sacrifice whatever it is for my country and for my people.”
For Alsaif, sports such as Muay Thai are more than physical battles against an opponent. She feels there is a psychological fight between the inner critic in her mind and the fighter in her heart.
“Your mind will tell you ‘It’s all right. You’re bleeding now. No one will blame you if you quit…just quit’,” she said. “If your mind says that, then your body is going to move as much as your mind told you. If you moved with your heart, courageous heart, then you win it.”
Alsaif’s Islamic faith and spirituality has carried her through life’s hardships, which included losing her parents as a child.
“But I always believe that God is with me, and that I’m never alone,” Alsaif said.
After religion, it’s mixed martial arts that provides solace, resilience and a feeling of belonging for Alsaif.
In the last three years, she has spent months in Muay Thai training camps in Ko Samui and Phuket, relishing even the hardest moments of tears, cuts and bruises.
“It was so amazing visiting Thailand and having a camp (there). That was one of my dreams,” she said.
The sports scene in Saudi Arabia has transformed so rapidly in recent years that a new generation of homegrown stars like Alsaif no longer needs to look beyond their borders or regions for role models.
Her inspiration is Saudi MMA fighter Abdullah Al-Qahtani, with whom she shares a coach.
“I can see how much discipline, motivation he has […] and how much hard work he does,” she said.
Their coach, Feras Sadaa, is “the best,” she said, adding that she frequently reminds herself she has his complete backing: “I always trust him.”
Alsaif’s routine is simple but rigorously disciplined and follows the vital components of sports development and recovery — train, eat, sleep and repeat.
Alsaif says she is focused on taking any opportunity that arrives in her path and hopes to see more Saudis competing in MMA.
“I know my people and I know that my people are good enough to enter that cage and to show us a good fight,” she said.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The 22-year-old Hattan Alsaifi made headlines around the world after she knocked out Egypt’s Nada Faheem. (Instagram: @hattanalsaif24)
The 111th session of the IUCN Council meeting began today in the city of Gland, Switzerland, chaired by Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The 3-day meeting discusses a group of issues, most notably “Vision.” The strategy for the Union” which extends for 20 years, and the Council is preparing it for review and comment by the members of the Union.
Al-Mubarak said in her speech during the meeting: “The strategic vision, which extends for twenty years, places at the heart of its attention the unprecedented challenges facing the climate and the survival of living species,” noting that in light of the increasing possibility of humanity exceeding the 1.5 degree Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement, Conservationists realize that their work will be more difficult and more important. She stressed the need to address these challenges by strengthening efforts and helping to support justice in the world so that we can all be more appreciative of nature and keen to preserve it.
During this session, the Council is scheduled to review and evaluate the initial draft of the Union’s program for the period 2026-2029, as a first step in the Union’s journey seeking to prepare the final version of the four-year plan, which will be voted on by the members, in preparation for its adoption during the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Conference in 2017. 2025, which is scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 15 next year, with the participation of representatives of public institutions, civil society, indigenous peoples, academia and the private sector.
Some of the specimens he has gathered are held in the British Museum in London,” Sara told Arab News.
As the granddaughter of the renowned explorer Abdullah Philby, Dr. Sara Faris Abdullah Philby’s decision to pursue her medical education in Saudi Arabia echoes the pioneering spirit that defined her grandfather’s historic exploration of the Arabian Peninsula.
In honoring her family’s heritage, Sara follows in the footsteps of Sheikh Abdullah Philby, whose multifaceted contributions continue to inspire generations.
“My grandfather led a truly remarkable life,” Sara told Arab News. “From his legendary expeditions to his conversion to Islam, his influence extends far beyond our family.”
She said he has had a profound impact on her life: “Simply contemplating his image fills me with warmth and optimism. My grandfather, Abdullah, possessed a rare combination of traits — uniqueness, dedication, and punctuality — that set him apart. As an explorer and writer, he navigated uncharted territories with grace and determination, leaving an indelible mark on history.”
Who was Abdullah Philby?
Harry St. John Bridger Philby, an explorer and Arabist, received his education at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. After joining the Indian Civil Service, where he mastered several languages including Urdu, Punjabi, Baluchi, Persian, and Arabic, Philby was recruited to Basra in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) in 1915 by Percy Cox. His service in Baghdad and Basra eventually led to a mission to meet Ibn Saud in Riyadh, a journey across Arabia for which he was awarded the Royal Geographical Society Founders Medal.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Harry St. John Bridger Philby, or Sheikh Abdullah, left behind a legacy as one of the greatest Arabian explorers.
• Over three decades, he embarked on extraordinary journeys, notably crossing the Empty Quarter in 1932, a feat that tested the limits of endurance.
• His granddaughter Dr. Sara Philby pursued her education in Alfaisal University in Riyadh. • After completing a bachelor’s degree in medicine and another in surgery, she was drawn to the intricate world of embryology.
From their first encounter, Philby was captivated by the magnetic personality of Ibn Saud, and the two formed a friendship that lasted 36 years. Despite his involvement in business and writing, Philby’s true passion lay in exploration. Over three decades, he embarked on extraordinary journeys, notably crossing the Empty Quarter in 1932, a feat that tested the limits of endurance.
Traveling by camel and later by Land Rover, Philby meticulously documented his expeditions, recording place names, temperatures, compass bearings, and more. His scholarly contributions earned him high honors from academic societies worldwide.
“He lived to witness a golden chapter in his life, marked by numerous creations of detailed maps, priceless books including unmatched details of his journeys, and contributions to several fields such as history, politics, and wildlife. Some of the specimens he has gathered are held in the British Museum in London,” Sara told Arab News.
As a trusted advisor to Ibn Saud, Philby’s insights and candid opinions were valued by the monarch. His conversion to Islam in 1930 further strengthened their bond, and Philby was bestowed the name Sheikh Abdullah.
In 1960, at the age of 75, Philby died during a visit to Beirut, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest Arabian explorers. He was buried in the Muslim graveyard at El-Bouchara, with his son Kim’s inscription on his grave marking his profound impact on exploration and scholarship.
For me, honoring my grandfather’s legacy is not merely a goal but a life purpose.
Dr. Sara Faris abdullah Philby, Alfaisal University graduate
“(He) left behind a spectacular life story and a loving family, led by my beloved uncle Khaled Philby and my beloved father Faris Philby, who would adore him for the rest of time,” Sara said.
His involvement in Arabia during World War I, his close relationship with Ibn Saud, and his pivotal role in the Arab Revolt and the creation of Saudi Arabia highlight his enduring influence on the region’s history and culture.
Sara explained that her grandfather’s legacy continues to influence her approach in life and her career in medicine: “His interests in exploration and travel might differ from my academic interests in medicine and clinical embryology. However, that doesn’t diminish his huge impact on my educational decisions.
“With his legacy as a beacon, I am motivated to continuously push myself to new heights, embracing challenges and opportunities for growth along the way,” she added. “His love for history, the desert, maps, and wildlife will forever capture my heart, despite my academic pathway heading somewhere different.”
Sara pursued her education in Alfaisal University in Riyadh. After completing a bachelor’s degree in medicine and another in surgery, she was drawn to the intricate world of embryology.
“My interest in this field stemmed from a personal fascination with reading books on embryology and reproductive sciences,” she noted. “Moreover, I was deeply inspired by the noble goals of this discipline, particularly in addressing infertility and assisting couples in starting families according to God’s will.”
Sara’s religious and cultural background plays a pivotal role in shaping her career aspirations. “As a Muslim, my faith serves as a guiding light,” she affirms. “Islam’s teachings emphasize compassion and kindness, influencing my academic pursuits. The profound references to embryology in the Holy Qur’an have deepened my interest in this field.
“The Holy Qur’an beautifully elucidates the stages of human embryonic development in multiple verses,” she noted. “This further solidified my conviction to pursue a career in clinical embryology and reproductive biology.”
Following her passion, this year Sara graduated from Alfaisal University with a master’s degree in biomedical sciences, specializing in clinical embryology and reproductive biology, achieving first honors.
Speaking about the enriching experience at the university, she said: “Alfaisal University has been an integral part of my life for many educationally fruitful years … I am hopeful for its continued success and prosperity in the future.”
Her journey through academia had its own challenges: “The rigorous demands of the field required unwavering commitment and patience. However, these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today, instilling in me a sense of resilience and determination.
“Embrace the journey, stay true to yourself, and remain dedicated to your goals,” she advises aspiring professionals. “Believe in your abilities and seize the opportunities that come your way.”
Balancing personal aspirations with her family’s legacy is a central theme for Sara. “I place great importance on aligning my personal aspirations with the expectations associated with my family’s legacy,” she explains. “By staying true to myself and honoring my family’s heritage, I find harmony in pursuing my goals.”
As she navigates the complexities of academia and embarks on her own path of exploration, Sara remains steadfast in her commitment to honoring the rich heritage passed down to her by her grandfather.
“For me, honoring my grandfather’s legacy is not merely a goal but a life purpose,” Sara said.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The British renowned explorer Abdullah Philby, or Philby of Arabia. / In honoring her family’s heritage, Sara Philby follows in the footsteps of Sheikh Abdullah Philby, whose multifaceted contributions continue to inspire generations. Supplied/AN photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub)
Dr. Sara Faris Abdullah Philby, Alfaisal University graduate
