Cynthia Farahat

Cynthia Farahat is an Egyptian author, columnist, political analyst, writer and researcher. Co-founder of the Misr El-Umm (2003-06) and the Liberal Egyptian (2006-08) parties, which stood for peace with Israel, capitalism, and the abolition of theocracy, she is on Al-Qaeda affiliated group’s hit list, and was officially banned from entering Lebanon for her work for regional peace. Ms Farahat was under long-term surveillance by the State Security Intelligence Service before moving to the in the United States in 2011. Ms Farahat worked with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty in Cairo, co-authored several books in Arabic, among them is, “Desecration of A Heavenly Religion,” which was officially banned by Al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo in 2008, for its critical research of Egyptian Islamic blasphemy laws. Ms Farahat is currently a columnist for Al-Maqal Daily Newspaper. She has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and received an award from the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) in 2012, and the Profiles in Courage Award from ACT for America in 2013. She is an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Forum and a columnist at Al-Maqal Daily Newspaper. She published in numerous Arabic and Western journals, such as the Middle East Quarterly, National Review Online, Front Page Magazine, Fox News, and The Washington Times.