Hip-hop has taken root in Egypt. Authorities are trying to suppress it. But the raw power of the music may be unstoppable. Yasmine el Rashidi, author of “Laughter in the Dark: Egypt to the Tune of Change,” tells host Marco Werman how young Egyptians are pushing hip-hop to the limit.
Egyptians over the weekend cast ballots in a two-part referendum on its proposed new constitution. But protests, meanwhile continue, with protesters for and against the constitution taking to the street. It’s gotten to the point where business officials say its cutting into their profits.
Egypt’s efforts to forge a new constitution have largely been stymied to date. The first version was thrown out by the courts as not reflective of the country’s diversity. Now, a new assembly is trying to write a new one, but encountering resistance from Egyptians who don’t like what’s in this latest document.
As the democratic process in Egypt winds up, Coptic Christians find themselves facing a number of restrictions and proclamations that would leave them with fewer rights than they already have. They’re worried that the newly empowered Islamists will force them to pay special taxes or wear veils not called for by their religion.