Bassem Sabry - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Bassem Sabry

Bassem Sabry is an Egyptian political writer and commentator. On Twitter: @Bassem_Sabry

A man walks past a graffiti portraying protesters killed in recent clashes with supporters of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi, at Tahrir Square in Cairo December 20, 2012. Egypt's opposition, facing defeat over a new constitution in a referendum this weekend, urged its supporters to reject the Islamist-backed charter and pledged to fight on to amend it during elections expected next year. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Rethinking Egypt’s Opposition

Bassem Sabry

A view of Tahrir Square where protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi are camping, in Cairo December 16, 2012. Egyptians voted narrowly in favour of a constitution shaped by Islamists but opposed by other groups who fear it will deepen divisions, officials in rival camps said on Sunday after the first round of a two-stage referendum. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Egypt Still Divided After First Round of Voting

Bassem Sabry

Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi smiles during a meeting with South Korea's presidential envoy and former Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan (not in picture) at the presidential palace in Cairo October 8, 2012, a day after Mursi's "Al Nhada (Renaissance) project. The project is primarily a economic and social programme comprising of promises the president vowed to fulfil within 100 days of taking office. Mursi has won grudging respect from detractors in his first 100 days by sending the army back to barracks fas

Absolute Power: Morsi Decree Stuns Egyptians

Bassem Sabry

Smoke rises after what witnesses was said an Israeli air strike in Gaza City November 20, 2012. A Hamas official said Egyptian mediators had clinched a truce with Israel on Tuesday that would go into effect within hours, but Egypt and Israel said a Gaza ceasefire deal was still up in the air after a week of fighting. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST MILITARY POLITICS)

New Egypt Confronts an Old Crisis

Bassem Sabry

Shops are seen open after 10 p.m. , along a street in Cairo October 22, 2012. A new government desperate to break with the administrative chaos that followed Hosni Mubarak's overthrow says it will enforce a ban on late-night shopping next week and restore order to streets that have come to resemble vast open-air bazaars. Picture taken October 22, 2012. To match Feature EGYPT-SHOPPING/NIGHT REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: BUSINESS)

Do Morsi and His Government Have Any Plan in Mind?

Bassem Sabry

Abd Elrahman Elbar (L) and Saeed Abd Elazeem (2nd L), members of the committee drafting Egypt's new constitution, speak at the Shura Council in Cairo September 11, 2012. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS)

A Look at Egypt's Draft Constitution

Bassem Sabry

A giant banner of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi, which reads: "Mursi is the first civilian president", is pictured as Mursi addresses the nation at Cairo stadium October 6, 2012, to mark the anniversary of Egypt's successful crossing of the Suez Canal in its October 1973 war against Israel. Mursi said on Saturday he had fallen short of goals he promised to fulfil in his first 100 days in office, but aimed to assuage critics by highlighting his most prominent achievements. REUTERS/Egyptian Presidency/Hando

Egypt's Morsi at 100 Days: Opposition on Notice

Bassem Sabry

A man sits outside a shop as a poster of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq is seen hanging on a wall in Cairo June 13, 2012. The Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi will face Shafiq, the last prime minister of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, in a presidential run-off on June 16 and 17, the climax of Egypt's first free leadership contest after 16 months of military rule. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Five Challenges Facing Egypt's Liberals

Bassem Sabry

Supporters are seen outside the building where Mohamed ElBaradei is launching his new party named "Dustour" (Constitution) during a news conference in Cairo April 28, 2012. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

Progressive Egyptians Seek A Unified Movement

Bassem Sabry

Egypt: Moving Forward

Bassem Sabry

People walk under giant campaign election billboards of presidential candidates former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq (R), and Mohamed Mursi, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood's political party in Cairo May 25, 2012. Egyptians must choose between a Muslim Brother or an ex-military man in a presidential run-off that highlights the stark rifts in a nation united in euphoria when Hosni Mubarak fell 15 months ago, first-round results indicated on Friday. With most votes counted, the Muslim Brotherhood said its ca

How a Morsi-Shafiq Runoff Could be Good for Egypt

Bassem Sabry