Middle East
A New Arab Generation Finds Its Voice
Escalating violence has tempered the regional euphoria that followed the youth-led revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. And yet, young people will continue to play an important role in the Arab Spring. This month, The New York Times interviewed more than two dozen of them, from Morocco to the West Bank, to find out how they consider their moment in history and their generation’s prospects for the future.
CREDITS
Videography by: Stephen Farrell, Reem Makhoul, David Botti, Brent McDonald, Duraid Adnan and Zaid Thaker
Produced by: Jeffery DelViscio, Lisa Iaboni, Tom Jackson, Leila Taha and Reem Makhoul
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Escalating violence has tempered the regional euphoria that followed the youth-led revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. And yet, young people will continue to play an important role in the Arab Spring. This month, The New York Times interviewed more than two dozen of them, from Morocco to the West Bank, to find out how they consider their moment in history and their generation’s prospects for the future.
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Muammar Qaddafi destroyed the
Libyan nation.
–Muhammad al-Zawam, 25, student
Benghazi, Libya
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I think this is the time for the youth to take matters into their own hands.–Mousheera Abu Shmas, 25, human rights advocate
Gaza
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The term ‘democracy’ doesn’t exist in people’s memory.–Ghassan el-Hakim, 26, director
Rabat, Morocco
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Qaddafi is not going to go easily.–Sara Gebril, 21, student
Benghazi, Libya
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We have thick skin from the past
30 years.–Omar el-Bassiouny, 25, engineering student
Cairo
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This freedom will be for everybody, not only for men.–Rinad Ayed, 23, procurement assistant
Birzeit, West Bank
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Qaddafi’s rule is just a matter of time.–Qutayba Hamid, 22, student
Baghdad
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I really dream of an Islamic but
secular country.–Mariam Abu Adas, 30, youth worker
Amman, Jordan
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Our constitution is religion.–Ahmed al-Shawwa, 21, student
Gaza
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Democracy will reduce religious radicalism.–Ruba al-Bream, 29, public relations and event coordinator
Amman, Jordan
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I do not think that democracy helps
solve problems.–Daoud Abu Libdeh, 23, student
Jerusalem
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Revolutions can’t be copied.–Roula Salman, 23, accountant and fund-raiser
Bethlehem, West Bank
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After 35 years of the last regime,
what is democracy?–Baha’aaldin Majeed, head of youth organization
Baghdad
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Democracy is an indefinite word.–Maath Musleh, 25, freelance social media consultant and producer
Jerusalem
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That word — ‘hope.’
Previous generations, our father’s generation, we didn’t have that.–Naseem Tarawnah, 27, Internet entrepreneur
Amman, Jordan
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Please, please don’t judge us like that.–Arwa Alasma, 23, law student
Benghazi, Libya
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We can’t just say there must be change. There must be a change in our minds.–Imane Zerouali, 28, actress
Rabat, Morocco
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People have to feel there are lots of
work opportunities.–Hatam Eihab Seoudi, 26, social media marketer
Cairo
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Now there is political talk.–Sophia Chraïbi, 29, designer
Rabat, Morocco
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I still have a lot of fear that some groups will use this kind of uprising in a
violent way.–Usama Nicola, 30, youth leader
Bethlehem, West Bank
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God knows where it might
happen next.–Omar Younis, 25, communications engineer
Nablus, West Bank
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I saw people die, I saw fights, I saw problems, for you, so you can live in a better country.–Alia Khaled el-Shammaa, 22, engineering student
Cairo
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At least we will have the right to speak.–Jaballa Mustafa, 23, English teacher and accounting student
Benghazi, Libya -
RELATED LINKS
CREDITS
Videography by: Stephen Farrell, Reem Makhoul, David Botti, Brent McDonald, Duraid Adnan and Zaid Thaker
Produced by: Jeffery DelViscio, Lisa Iaboni, Tom Jackson, Leila Taha and Reem Makhoul
