Imprisoning a Revolution: Writings from Egypt’s Incarcerated, edited by Collective Antigone, presents a poignant collection of letters, poetry, and art created by political prisoners in Egypt. The book offers a powerful insight into the experiences of those imprisoned for their dissent against the authoritarian regime. It highlights the resilience and resistance of individuals facing oppression, showcasing their determination to maintain their humanity and dignity. The collection serves as a stark reminder of the global rise of authoritarianism and the urgent need to protect human rights. The book's diverse voices underscore the widespread impact of political imprisonment, extending beyond the individuals directly affected to their families and communities.
Imprisoning a Revolution: Writings from Egypt’s Incarcerated (U California Press, 2025), edited by Collective Antigone, is a groundbreaking collection of writings by political prisoners in Egypt. It offers a unique lens on the global rise of authoritarianism during the last decade. This book contains letters, poetry, and art produced by Egypt’s incarcerated from the eruption of the January 25, 2011, uprising. Some are by journalists, lawyers, activists, and artists imprisoned for expressing their opposition to Egypt’s authoritarian order; others are by ordinary citizens caught up in the zeal to silence any hint of challenge to state power, including bystanders whose only crime was to be near a police sweep. Together, the contributors raise profound questions about the nature of politics in both authoritarian regimes and their “democratic” allies, who continue to enable and support such violence. This collection offers few answers and even less consolation, but it does offer voices from behind the prison walls that remind readers of our collective obligation not to look away or remain silent. With a foreword by acclaimed Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji and an afterword with Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Imprisoning a Revolution holds a mirror not just to Egypt but to the world today, urging us to stop the rampant abuse and denial of fundamental human rights around the globe.
In this episode, Ibrahim Fawzy interviews Mark LeVine and Lucia Sorbera about the genesis of the book, the challenges of curating it, struggle against tyranny, resistance, writing, and more.
Ibrahim Fawzy is a literary translator and writer based in Boston. His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, disability studies, and migration literature.
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New Books in Middle Eastern Studies