Doaa el-Adl

Doaa el-Adl is an Egyptian cartoonist, noted for her satirical cartoons with strong political, social or religious meanings. She is cited as Egypt’s most famous female cartoonist.^[1] She currently works for the Al Masry Al Youm newspaper, with which she has received considerable attention and created controversy.^[2][1]

Background

el-Adl has worked as a cartoonist for Al Dostor, Rose Al Youssef Magazine and Sabah El Kheir Magazine, and has illustrated for Qatr El Nada, Alaa-El Din and Bassem. She is now employed by the Al Masry Al Youm, with which she has received considerable attention. In 2009 she won the Journalistic Distinction in Caricature award, becoming the first female recipient.^[1] In 2016 she was named one of BBC's 100 Women.

Works

el-Adl created controversy in December 2012 when the newspaper Al Masry Al Youm published her cartoon which illustrated an angel informing Adam and Eve that they could stay in the Garden of Eden if they voted for the right candidate. Though she had intended it to criticize political appropriation of religion, she was fined for blasphemy.^[1] The same year, she was questioned by prosecutor general Talaat Abdallah for a cartoon in which she criticized Islamists in Egypt and their influence in politics. She was defended by Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who depicted el-Adl defending herself against an Islamist with a spear-like pencil.^[3] In February 2013, she created a cartoon to criticize female genital mutilation, by illustrating a seedy-looking man climbing a ladder and stretching, holding a pair of scissors, to cut off a red flower between a woman’s legs.^[1][2] Her cartoons depicting President Mubarak’s trial were also popular.^[1]

References