Ibdaa

Ibdaa, whose name means “Creativity” in Arabic, is an Egyptian monthly literary magazine published in Arabic from Cairo. It was launched in January 1983 and is published by the General Egyptian Book Organization, an institution associated with Egypt’s Ministry of Culture. The magazine’s editorial remit centers on literary and cultural writing, including poetry, fiction, criticism, essays, visual art, and discussions of cultural and intellectual life. The publication has operated within Egypt’s state-supported literary and publishing system while also serving as a platform for independent literary voices and cultural debate. Its contributors have included writers and artists from Egypt and the wider Arabic literary world. Ahmed Morsi, an Egyptian painter and poet, was among its notable contributors. His “Risalat New York” (“Dispatch from New York”) column discussed figures and subjects including Allen Ginsberg, Jasper Johns, and Toni Morrison, reflecting the magazine’s interest in international artistic and literary culture. Editorial leadership has included the Egyptian poet Ahmed Abdel Muti Hijazi, who became chief editor in 1990. He held the position until resigning in 2002 and was appointed to it again in 2006. By 2015, the editor was the Egyptian novelist Mohamed Mansi Qandil. The available reference material does not establish the magazine’s present editor, circulation, current ownership arrangements beyond its institutional publisher, or whether it remains in regular publication. Ibdaa has also been involved in several censorship disputes. Earlier issues were reportedly banned after publishing an image depicting Adam and Eve nude and after carrying a study concerning Jewish culture. The most prominent later case followed the publication of Hilmi Salem’s poem “On the Balcony of Leila Murad.” Egyptian authorities suspended the magazine in April 2007, and on 7 April 2009 the Egyptian State Council Administrative Court revoked its publishing license after a petition associated with Al-Azhar University. The court regarded a comparison in the poem involving God and an Egyptian peasant as blasphemous. The ruling was reversed on appeal in June 2009, allowing the magazine’s license to be restored. The episode made Ibdaa a notable example in discussions of literary censorship, religious offense, and the limits of cultural publishing in Egypt.

Ibdaa was launched in Cairo in January 1983 as a monthly Arabic literary magazine. Its publisher is the General Egyptian Book Organization, a public cultural institution connected to Egypt’s Ministry of Culture. The magazine’s institutional setting places it within Egypt’s government-supported publishing network, but its content has included a broad range of literary and artistic material rather than being limited to official cultural announcements. Across its documented history, Ibdaa has published poetry, prose, literary criticism, cultural essays, and visual-art material. The magazine has provided space for Egyptian and Arab writers while also presenting international cultural subjects. Ahmed Morsi, an Egyptian painter and poet, was a significant contributor. His “Risalat New York” column brought coverage of artists and writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Jasper Johns, and Toni Morrison into the magazine’s Arabic cultural context. Ahmed Abdel Muti Hijazi became chief editor in 1990 and remained in the role until his resignation in 2002. He returned to the position in 2006. The available reference identifies Mohamed Mansi Qandil, an Egyptian novelist, as the editor by 2015. No reliable material supplied for this entry identifies a later editor, current circulation, current website, or confirmed publication status. The magazine has faced several bans and censorship actions. One reported ban followed the publication of a painting showing Adam and Eve naked. Another was associated with an issue containing a study of Jewish culture. The best-documented dispute involved Hilmi Salem’s poem “On the Balcony of Leila Murad.” In April 2007, Ibdaa was banned and its license was revoked in proceedings that culminated in an Egyptian State Council Administrative Court decision on 7 April 2009. The court considered a passage comparing God to an Egyptian peasant to be blasphemous. The case was brought following a petition associated with authorities at Al-Azhar University. The poem had previously appeared in Salem’s 2006 poetry collection and in Egyptian newspapers without producing the same judicial response. The magazine was also criticized publicly by Hamdi Rizq in Almasry Al-Youm. In June 2009, an appeal overturned the ban and license revocation. The episode remains central to Ibdaa’s documented history because it illustrates the tension between literary publication, religious sensitivities, and state regulation of the Egyptian press.

• 2015

  Mohamed Mansi Qandil identified as editor

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Reference material identifies Egyptian novelist Mohamed Mansi Qandil as the magazine’s editor by 2015.

• 2009

  Administrative court revokes license

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  On 7 April, Egypt’s State Council Administrative Court revoked the magazine’s license in the blasphemy case.

• 2009

  Appeal restores publication rights

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  An appeal in June reversed the ban and license revocation.

• 2007

  Magazine banned after publication of Hilmi Salem poem

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Ibdaa was banned in connection with its publication of “On the Balcony of Leila Murad,” a poem by Hilmi Salem.

• 2006

  Hijazi reappointed

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Ahmed Abdel Muti Hijazi returned to the chief-editor role.

• 2002

  Hijazi resigns as chief editor

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Hijazi left the chief-editorship after holding the position for approximately twelve years.

• 1990

  Ahmed Abdel Muti Hijazi becomes chief editor

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  The Egyptian poet Ahmed Abdel Muti Hijazi took over as chief editor.

• 1983

  Magazine launched

  [1]Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Ibdaa began publication in January 1983 as a monthly Arabic literary magazine based in Cairo.

A state-published Egyptian literary and cultural magazine that combines Arabic creative writing, criticism, visual art, and international cultural commentary.

• Literary magazine · 1983

  Ibdaa monthly issue

  The core product is a monthly Arabic-language literary magazine published from Cairo. Issues combine creative writing with criticism, cultural essays, visual-art material, and features on Egyptian, Arab, and international literary and artistic life.

• Cultural column

  Risalat New York

  A column by Egyptian painter and poet Ahmed Morsi. It brought international cultural subjects into Ibdaa through writing about figures including Allen Ginsberg, Jasper Johns, and Toni Morrison.

• 2009

  License revocation over Hilmi Salem poem

  The magazine’s license was revoked by Egypt’s State Council Administrative Court after publication of Hilmi Salem’s poem “On the Balcony of Leila Murad.” The court considered a comparison involving God and an Egyptian peasant blasphemous. The decision was reversed on appeal in June 2009.

  Source

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• 2009

  Administrative court revokes the magazine’s licenseOther

  Background

  The action followed publication of Hilmi Salem’s poem “On the Balcony of Leila Murad,” which authorities and the court treated as blasphemous.

  Action taken

  Egypt’s State Council Administrative Court revoked Ibdaa’s license on 7 April 2009.

  Aftermath

  An appeal reversed the ban and license revocation in June 2009.

  Source

1. 1Ibdaa (magazine)en.wikipedia.org