Still, Shabayek sees some – albeit small – changes brought about by the revolution. Women are more willing to speak out and share their stories; the audience is more open to accepting them. “The revolution has left us feeling empowered when it comes to self-expression. There is a change in people at least, even if the system is the same or maybe worse.”

Fanack provides an overview of Egypt’s geography, including its state borders, local climate, and natural resources.

The vast majority of the population is Sunni Muslim. The largest minority consists of Coptic Christians, but there are no recent official statistics for their number. According to the census of 1986, 6 percent of population was Coptic Christian. Recent estimates suggest that Copts account for 8 to 10 percent of the domestic population, but there are no accurate data.

Fanack presents an overview of Egypt’s governance and politics, including its different branches of government and governance challenges.

Fanack provides an overview of Egypt’s economy, outlining its various economic sectors and activities.

Fanack’s Egypt country file provides a comprehensive overview about Egypt, its history, politics, culture, economy and much more.

Throughout the political upheaval of the past seven years, el-Tayeb has succeeded in maintaining al-Azhar’s key role in Egypt’s power dynamics, by strongly supporting the regime and the army, preventing major internal changes at al-Azhar and ensuring Islam retains a central role in public policies.

Since winning the Arabic Booker in 2009, he has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of religious extremism and cultural decline in Egypt. His voice is one among a growing number in Egypt calling for cultural change, change that can only happen if Egyptians begin to question dearly held beliefs, especially religious ones.

“My heart started beating very fast and it was like a lightbulb moment,” she recalled of the moment. “It had never entered my mind that I might make jewellery, but as soon as I saw this book I thought, why not?”

During her detention, she wrote an open letter titled ‘We shall continue’, vowing to keep on fighting until the controversial Protest Law issued in November 2013 – which effectively annihilated the right to protest – was abolished. She also pointed to class differences that determine one’s treatment even in prison, ending her letter with the call: ‘Down with this classist society’.