By Nile El Wardani

Today marked the second anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution that continues to wage on with the same chants "Leave Leave"- this time directed against the new undemocratically elected President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Undemocratic, because the political system was rigged from the first round of elections, which was never reported by CNN.

CNN's coverage of Egypt has been and continues to be misleading, insufficient and biased. This does not allow the millions of CNN audiences worldwide to understand fully the true picture of what is going on in Egypt. 

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Dec 6 2012 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Price: 

$10 suggested donation
RSVPs to 310.827.4320

Where: 

Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90035
between La Cienega and Fairfax
ample street parking and in
underground CVS lot till 10 pm only

CODEPINK Women for Peace presents an evening of film and discussion with The Suffering Grasses. A year and a half on, with more than 30,000 dead and counting, the ongoing conflict in Syria has become a microcosm for the complicated politics of the region. Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring, this film by Iara Lee (Cultures of Resistance) explores the Syrian civil war through the humanity of the civilians who have been killed, abused, and displaced to the squalor of refugee camps. In all such conflicts, large and small, it is civilians—women and children, families and whole communities—who suffer at the leisure of those in power. Read an op-ed on Syria by Iara Lee. Read a new view of The Suffering Grasses.

The Middle East/North Africa is an historic region, host to great civilizations and vastly diverse populations (Armenian, Assyrian, Bedouin, Berber, Chaldean, Coptic, Druze, Iranian, Kurdish, Levantine, Sephardic to name but a few of many), with large diaspora communities living around the world. Reminiscent of the post-9/11 era, however, Americans today are bombarded by simplistic, negative messaging about Arabs/Muslims and the Middle East. This sets us back in our mission to champion literacy about cultures of the Middle East/North Africa. It causes the level of ignorance and stereotypes to rise—in spite of the fact that Arabs/Muslims in this country are honest citizens—engineers, business people, doctors, lawyers, academics, who continue to make important contributions to the American social fabric, technology, medicine, etc.

Early Wednesday morning, we received a short piece from one of our dear supporters, Joslyn Atkins Esq., detailing her thoughts on the recent turmoil in Libya and Egypt and the passing of US Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens along with the other Americans and Libyans who were killed in the violence. Ms. Atkins reflects on the abuse of freedom of speech, the reactionary response that followed the release of the film, and the stereotypes that face religious groups today. She goes on to mention what we here at the Levantine Cultural Center struggle with everyday-how much easier it is to fund hate in 2012 rather than invest in peace and understanding.

Hana El Gamal
Assistant to the Director

"In all, it appears that whatever the future holds in store for Egypt, the legacy of Tahrir Square—not the legacy of operation Iraqi Freedom—will provide the beacon of democracy in the region." —James Gelvin

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Jul 25 2012 7:15pm - 8:50pm

Price: 

Free to the public, RSVPs required 323.413.2001

Where: 

Laemmle's Music Hall
9036 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills CA 90211
Parking around the corner on Doheny south of Wilshire, $3

"I have just seen this film at Edinburgh Film Festival, and it was absolutely phenomenal. A vital film for our times, and anyone that claims to care about democracy needs to see this film." —Swords and Sandals, UK

Red Flag Releasing and the Levantine Cultural Center present a special preview screening of the new documentary on Iran's democracy movement, The Green Wave, from director Ali Samadi Ahadi on Wednesday, July 25, 7:15 pm at Laemmle's Music Hall. A Q & A follows with author/scholar Reza Aslan and filmmaker Sally El Hosaini, writer/director of "My Brother the Devil" moderated by the Levantine Center's Jordan Elgrably. Seating is limited and you must RSVP with your first and last name, phone and email address to 323.413.2001. Read a Huffington Post article. The film opens in Los Angeles on August 10, 2012, with additional cities added each week. This special screening cosponsored by the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Aslan Media. Read an early review.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    Contact. Amal Abdul Aziz
JUNE 5, 2012                                                                                       310.967.9710

 

EGYPTIAN AMERICANS DISCUSS ELECTIONS, REVOLUTION & THE FUTURE
OF DEMOCRACY, SUN, JUNE 10, 5 PM 

"Egypt Now: From Revolution to Democracy"—a forum presented by the Levantine Cultural Center in the MENA-X (Middle East/North Africa Exchange) series—presents four Egyptian Americans (Muslim, Coptic and Jewish) who will discuss Egypt's shifting landscape, from dictatorship to fledgling democracy, with particular emphasis on recent elections.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Jun 10 2012 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Price: 

Free to the public, charitable contributions welcome

Where: 

Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90035
Between La Cienega & Fairfax
Ample street parking

"Egypt Now: From Revolution to Democracy" in the MENA-X (Middle East/North Africa Exchange) series presents three Egyptian Americans (Muslim, Coptic and Jewish) who will discuss Egypt's shifting landscape, from dictatorship to fledgling democracy, with particular emphasis on recent elections. The panel includes Suzie Abdou, Nile El Wardani and Juliana Maio who have all published articles on Egypt in the June 2012 issue of the Levantine Review.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Jan 29 2012 11:30am - 2:30pm

Price: 

$45 general with lunch, $20 students, $15 no lunch (standing room only)
Click here to buy tickets

Where: 

UCLA
Faculty Center
480 Charles Young Drive East
Los Angeles CA 90095

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating the vision of the Egyptian Revolution. The program will include an exclusive keynote via phone from Cairo by prominent blogger and activist, Alaa Abd El-Fattah. VJ Um Amel joins DJ Ma'at for an afternoon of world music synchronized to a remix of Egyptian cinema and media emerging from the revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa. Drawn from the databases of the R-Shief initiative, this performance pays tribute to the vision of the people. Lunch will be served.

MEDIA ALERT

CONTACT JORDAN ELGRABLY, 310.402.8866
or DHIA RABIAI, 310.593.3961

FREE TUNISIA ORGANIZATION PRESENTS NEW TUNISIAN FILM FESTIVAL
IN HOLLYWOOD ON ANNIVERSARY OF REVOLUTION, JAN. 10-12, 2012

WHEN: Tues-Thurs, Jan. 10, 11, 12, 2012, 5-10 pm
WHERE: Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90027
WHY: To celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the Tunisian democracy revolution
WHO: Tunisian filmmakers, artists, musicians and diplomats
HOW : Tickets are a suggested $10 donation. For tickets/reservations, call 310.657.5511 or 424.242.3856 or go online:

http://www.levantinecenter.org/event/tunisian-film-festival