The career of Mona Eltahawy pivoted in November 2011 when she was detained by Egyptian security forces in Tahrir Square. During twelve hours of custody, she suffered physical and sexual assault, resulting in fractures to her left arm and right hand. This event marked a definitive escalation in her public critique of regional political and social authorities.
Early Development and Journalism
Born in Port Said, Egypt, in 1967, Eltahawy moved to Saudi Arabia at age 15. She attended The American University in Cairo, completing a bachelor's degree in 1990 and a master's in mass communication in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, she worked as a reporter and correspondent for Reuters in Cairo and Jerusalem. She moved to the United States in 2000 and obtained citizenship in 2011.
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Eltahawy has contributed to outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, and the Christian Science Monitor. From 2003 to 2004, she served as managing editor for Women’s eNews. She wrote a weekly column for Asharq Al-Awsat from 2004 until 2006, when the publication discontinued her work due to her criticism of the Egyptian regime. In 2020, she launched the newsletter Feminist Giant to host her essays and commentary.
Activism and Advocacy
Self-described as a secular, radical feminist Muslim, Eltahawy focuses her activism on women’s rights, patriarchy, and political reform. She gained international attention for her book Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution, published in 2015. She later authored The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls in 2019. Her advocacy includes spearheading the #MosqueMeToo movement and opposing restrictive abortion legislation in Texas.
Legal and Public Incidents
In September 2012, Eltahawy was arrested in a New York City Subway station for spray-painting an American Freedom Defense Initiative advertisement. She characterized the act as civil disobedience and a form of expression. She was charged with criminal mischief, graffiti, and possession of a graffiti instrument. Throughout her career, she has received several honors, including the 2009 Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press.
Fast facts
- Born: 1 August 1967, Port Said, Egypt
- Citizenship: Egypt; United States
- Education: The American University in Cairo
- First Book: Headscarves and Hymens (2015)
- News Agency Experience: Reuters
- Key Hashtag: #MosqueMeToo
- Religious Affiliation: Islam
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Eltahawy's writing?
Her work addresses women's rights, the influence of patriarchy, and political affairs within Egypt and the Islamic world.
What is the significance of the 2012 subway incident?
Eltahawy was arrested for spray-painting over an advertisement she deemed offensive, which she defended as an act of civil disobedience.
