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Leila Fadel Leila Fadel is a host of Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.
Leila Fadel, photographed for NPR, 2 May 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Mike Morgan for NPR.
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Leila Fadel

Friday

Middle East

Journalists In Egypt Face 'Unprecedented Pressures'

As the military-backed government in Cairo continues its offensive against the Muslim Brotherhood, there is also a widening crackdown on the media. Army officers now call the shorts at State TV, and independent journalists are under increasing pressure to toe the line.

Journalists In Egypt Face 'Unprecedented Pressures'

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Tuesday

As Artistic Freedoms Dwindle, A Tunisian Rapper Is On The Run

Tunisian rapper Klay BBJ in an image from his Facebook page. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Music

As Artistic Freedoms Dwindle, A Tunisian Rapper Is On The Run

Rapper Klay BBJ's mother says he was arrested and beaten over a song he performed that criticized police. Human Rights Watch says his case is one in a series of prosecutions targeting artists' freedom of speech.

As Artistic Freedoms Dwindle, A Tunisian Rapper Is On The Run

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Monday

Middle East

In Widening Crackdown, Egyptian Court Bans Muslim Brotherhood

An Egyptian court ruling on Monday banned the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered the government to seize all the assets of the Islamist group. This is the latest move in a widening crackdown on the group that ruled Egypt just a few months ago.

In Widening Crackdown, Egyptian Court Bans Muslim Brotherhood

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Thursday

As The Revolution Fades, Tunisia Begins To Splinter

People gather outside the Constituent Assembly headquarters during a protest to demand the ouster of the Islamist-dominated government, in Tunis, Tunisia, on July 28. Anis Mili/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Anis Mili/Reuters/Landov

Parallels

As The Revolution Fades, Tunisia Begins To Splinter

Tunisia's Islamist ruling party is trying to avoid the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, which was recently ousted by the military. But it's feeling the heat. As in Egypt, security issues and economic pressures are fueling discontent. Tunisians are increasingly blaming the government.

As The Revolution Fades, Tunisia Begins To Splinter

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Thursday

In Egypt's Political Turmoil, Middle Ground Is The Loneliest

The protesters who opposed Hosni Mubarak two years ago, like these demonstrators in Cario's Tahrir Square on Feb. 8, 2011, have been pushed to the sidelines in the current confrontation. Emilio Morenatti/AP hide caption

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Emilio Morenatti/AP

Parallels

In Egypt's Political Turmoil, Middle Ground Is The Loneliest

The young, secular revolutionaries who led the 2011 uprising against the Hosni Mubarak regime have been pushed to the margins of the current confrontation in Egypt. They also feel they are battling two sets of authoritarian forces — the military and the Muslim Brotherhood.

In Egypt's Political Turmoil, Middle Ground Is The Loneliest

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Saturday

Middle East

Military Rides Wave Of Public Support In Egypt

The Muslim Brotherhood called for mass marches Friday, but with thousands of its members under arrest and the military deployed in anticipation, few showed up. Some fear Egypt is returning to a military state.

Military Rides Wave Of Public Support In Egypt

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Friday

Mubarak's Release From Prison Cuts Across Egypt's Divisions

Security forces and medics wheel a stretcher transporting former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from a military helicopter into an ambulance at a Cairo military hospital after his release from prison Thursday. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

Africa

Mubarak's Release From Prison Cuts Across Egypt's Divisions

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was released from prison on Thursday. He is under house arrest at a military hospital in Cairo. Mubarak could go back to prison if he's convicted in the deaths of protesters during the 2011 uprising against him.

Mubarak's Release From Prison Cuts Across Egypt's Divisions

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Wednesday

Middle East

Since Crackdown In Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood's Support Wanes

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood seems to be losing control. Planned marches aren't materializing, as the state continues to kill and arrest its members. The government is mulling dissolving the organization and some groups are calling for it to be listed as a terrorist organization. Under the intense pressure, analysts wonder if this means more extreme groups will reign and encourage violence.

Since Crackdown In Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood's Support Wanes

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Tuesday

Middle East

Symbolic Developments Indicate Direction Egypt Is Headed

Egypt's military-backed rulers are pressing on in their crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood. Authorities have arrested the group's spiritual leader. Since the security forces crackdown on Islamist protesters last week, nearly 1,000 people have been killed.

From 'Morning Edition': NPR's Leila Fadel reports from Cairo

Listen · 4:19
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Monday

Middle East

Egyptian Islamists Turn Their Rage Onto Christian Community

Dozens of churches have been attacked across Egypt since the security crackdown on Islamist protesters began last week. Christians worry they are becoming the scapegoat among more extreme Islamists, who blame them for President Morsi's overthrow. Human rights groups are asking why the state isn't doing more to protect the Christian community.

From 'Morning Edition': Cairo Bureau Chief Leila Fadel reports

Listen · 5:02
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Saturday

Despite Bloodshed, Many Egyptians Support Military

A pro-Morsi supporter stands with other demonstrators in Cairo's Abbassiya neighborhood on Friday. Mohammed Abdel Moneim/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mohammed Abdel Moneim/AFP/Getty Images

Political Crisis In Egypt

Despite Bloodshed, Many Egyptians Support Military

Egypt witnessed the bloodiest day in its modern history this week. Most of the dead are Muslim Brotherhood supporters, but there's little sympathy as the military and media ramp up a campaign to brand them as terrorists.

Despite Bloodshed, Many Egyptians Support Military

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Thursday

Scene From A Cairo Mosque Turned Morgue

A man walks among shrouded bodies at a Cairo mosque on Thursday. At the El-Iman mosque, more than 200 bodies were being prepared for burial, the victims killed in a crackdown on protesters by Egypt's military-backed government. Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Parallels

Scene From A Cairo Mosque Turned Morgue

On Thursday, more than 200 bodies of those killed in a crackdown on protesters by the Egyptian military were being prepared for burial at the El-Iman mosque in Cairo. Some mourners said the government was pressuring them to say the dead committed suicide or died of natural causes.

Scene From A Cairo Mosque Turned Morgue

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Middle East

Egypt Is Under A State Of Emergency

It was perhaps the bloodiest day in Egypt since the uprising in 2011. Security forces on Wednesday launched a major operation to clear supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi from two sit-in camps in Cairo but the violence quickly spread to other parts of the city.

Egypt Is Under A State Of Emergency

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Wednesday

Africa

Death Toll Mounts In Egypt After Violent Clashes

There were widespread clashes between security forces and Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi in Egypt on Wednesday.

Death Toll Mounts In Egypt After Violent Clashes

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Middle East

Security Forces Move In On Egyptian Protests

After days of tense standoff in Cairo, Egyptian security forces began clearing two sit-in camps by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. The Interior Ministry, which is in charge of police, warned in a statement that the forces would deal firmly with protesters acting "irresponsibly."

Security Forces Move In On Egyptian Protests

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