The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) is pleased to announce the selection of Oumayma Ben Abdallah as the recipient of the Bassem Sabry Democracy Fellowship. Ms. Ben Abdallah is the fifth recipient of the fellowship and will undertake research on personal freedoms in Tunisia when she commences her fellowship in January 2018. You can read Ms. Ben Abdallah’s full bio here.
“I am very proud to be welcoming Oumayma to TIMEP this January. Her arrival not only signifies the continuation of our pledge to honor Bassem Sabry’s legacy at TIMEP, but also the continued expansion of the fellowship as our first female recipient,” said Dr. Nancy Okail, TIMEP’s Executive Director. “As an advocate for human rights, freedoms, and rule of law, Oumayma embodies the values of inclusiveness and democracy, which Bassem tirelessly promoted. We look forward to the knowledge and experience she will bring to our team,” Okail added.
The Bassem Sabry Democracy Fellowship is awarded to a young professional with a background in journalism, international relations, political science, or other relevant fields who is interested in undertaking research on the Middle East or North Africa. Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to furthering the principles of democratic and inclusive change—the values that Sabry promoted during his career. TIMEP announced the creation of the fellowship in May 2014 following the death of the eponymous Egyptian writer and commentator. A partnership between TIMEP and Atlas Corps to sponsor the fellowship was announced in December 2014.
The application deadline for the next Bassem Sabry Fellowship position will be announced this spring. Please check our fellowship website for additional information on that fellowship and others. For general inquiries regarding the Bassem Sabry Fellowship, please contact [email protected]. To inquire about how to donate to the fellowship fund, please contact Sara Abdel Rahim at [email protected].
Bassem Sabry, a native of Cairo, was a writer and commentator on Egyptian and regional politics. Sabry’s balanced writing and commentary throughout the 2011 Egyptian revolution and following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak earned wide praise and attracted a global audience. In addition to publishing articles on his blog, “An Arab Citizen,” Sabry’s work was also featured in local, regional, and international news outlets, including al-Masry al-Youm, Al-Monitor, the Atlantic, and Foreign Policy.
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The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of democratic transitions in the Middle East through analysis, advocacy, and action.