Esra'a Al-Shafei

Esra'a Al-Shafei
Born July 23, 1986 (1986-07-23) (age 25)
Nationality Bahraini
Organization Mideast Youth
Religion Muslim[1]
Website

www.mideastyouth.com

www.crowdvoice.org

Esra'a Al-Shafei is a Bahraini civil rights activist, blogger, and the founder and executive director of Mideast Youth and its related projects. Al-Shafei is a senior TED Global Fellow,[2] an Echoing Green fellow,[3] and has been referred to by CNN reporter George Webster as "An outspoken defendant of free speech".[4] According to FastCompany, Al-Shafei is one of the 100 most creative people in business in 2011 [5]. And according to The Daily Beast, Al-Shafei is one of the 17 bravest bloggers worldwide [6]. Esra'a Al-Shafei is also a promoter of music as a means of social change.[4]

Al-Shafei is recipient of Berkman Award for Internet Innovation from Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School in 2008 for the outstanding contributions to the internet and its impact on society.[7]

Contents

Background

Esra'a Al-Shafei, according to her own account, recalls witnessing inhumane treatment of migrant workers as a child. This, along with stereotypical media portrayals of middle eastern youth, prompted her to begin blogging and found Mideast Youth.[8] Over time, the network expanded to include other civil rights issues within the middle east.

We want our humanity and our futures in our own hands and we use the internet and other forms of technology to fight for those rights.
—Esra'a Al-Shafei[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Manav Tanneeru (August 4, 2009). "Young Muslims turn to technology to connect, challenge traditions". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/07/31/generation.islam.tech/index.html. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
  2. ^ "TED fellows directory". TEDGlobal 2009. http://www.ted.com/fellows/view/id/41. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
  3. ^ "Echoing Green fellows directory". Echoing Green 2009. http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/year/2009. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
  4. ^ a b George Webster (March 12, 2010). "YouTube gives Bahraini youth window to world". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/12/esra.interview.bahrain.youth/. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
  5. ^ "the 100 most creative people in business in 2011". http://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2011/esraa-al-shafei-crowdvoice. 
  6. ^ "World's Bravest Bloggers". http://blogs.thedailybeast.com/interactive/2011/02/14/worlds-bravest-bloggers/index.html?cid=topic%253Amainpromo4. 
  7. ^ Berkman Award for Internet Innovation for Mideast Youth in 2008.
  8. ^ a b Simon Columbus (July 19, 2009). "Interview with Esra’a Al Shafei on freedom of expression in the Middle East". Gulli. http://www.simoncolumbus.com/2009/07/19/interview-with-esraa-al-shafei-on-freedom-of-expression-in-the-middle-east/. Retrieved April 28, 2011. 

External links