A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

If You're Arrested for Reading "1984," Does That Mean You're Living in It??

It may not be as memorable as the headline linked to in my previous post, but his one from Mada Masr is also great: "Police deny Cairo University student arrested for possessing Orwell’s '1984'."

They are not, however, ruling out using it in evidence against the student, who also had writings referring to the Caliphate. The media is, however, playing up the  1984 aspect, for the obvious ironic reasons. The charge sheet listed the book among his possessions and said it refernced "dictator and corrupt military regimes." 

George Orwell, please call your office.

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