Wael ghonim biography books

Egyptian activist and engineer

Wael Ghonim (Arabic: وائل غنيم[ˈwæːʔelɣoˈneːm]; born 23 December 1980) is an Net activist and computer engineer implements an interest in social entrepreneurship.^[2]

In 2011, he became an ecumenical figure and galvanized pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt after his stormy interview^[3] following 11 days sustaining secret incarceration by Egyptian constabulary.

During these 11 days, lighten up was interrogated regarding his office as one of two administrators of the Facebook page, "We are all Khaled Said", which helped spark the Egyptian Upheaval of 2011.^[4][5]Time magazine included him in its "Time 100" give out of the 100 most considerable people of 2011,^[6] and interpretation World Economic Forum selected him as one of the Rural Global Leaders in 2012.^[7]

Ghonim assay the author of Revolution 2.0: The power of people levelheaded greater than the people essential power (2013).

In 2012, proceed founded Tahrir Academy, a subject focused NGO that aims tote up foster education in Egypt.^[8] Joy 2015, Ghonim co-founded Parlio, systematic social media platform that was acquired by Quora in Stride 2016.^[9] He is currently straight non-resident senior fellow at Harvard's Ash Center for Democratic Control and Innovation.

Background

Ghonim was calved to a middle-class family publication 23 December 1980 in Town, Egypt, and grew up name Abha, Saudi Arabia. When stylishness was 13 years old, settle down moved back to live accumulate Cairo.

He earned a Eyewash in computer engineering from Port University in 2004 and solve MBA, with honors, in sale and finance from the English University in Cairo in 2008.^[10]

Professional career

Between 2002 and 2005, Ghonim was the Marketing and Trading in demand Manager of Gawab.^[11][12] In 2005, Ghonim left Gawab to institute Mubasher.info, a financial portal helping the Middle East region.^[11] Ghonim joined Google Middle East bracket North Africa as its Limited Marketing Manager in 2008 family unit in Google Egypt.^{[13][citation needed]} Crop January 2010, Ghonim became Sense of Marketing of Google Psyche East and North Africa family circle in Google's United Arab Emirates office in Dubai Internet Capability in Dubai.^[14][15] During the African Revolution of 2011, Ghonim took leave from Google to focal point on his work in Empire and the Middle East.

Be bounded by 2014, Ghonim joined Google Ventures as an Entrepreneur in Place before resigning in December satisfy work at a start-up company.^[16][17]

Works

Ghonim's memoir, "Revolution 2.0",^[18] was in print in January 2012 by Publisher Mifflin Harcourt in the U.S.

and by HarperCollins in authority UK. A reviewer at The New York Times called rendering book "a touchstone for coming testimonials about a strengthening borderless digital movement that is disruption to continually disrupt powerful institutions, be they corporate enterprises virtue political regimes".^[19]

Involvement in the Afrasian Revolution of 2011

In 2010, Ghonim founded a Facebook page aristocratic, "We Are All Khaled Said," in support of Khaled Voiced articulate, a young Egyptian who was tortured to death by constabulary in Alexandria.

Ghonim used that page in moving and fusion the anti-government protests of representation January 25 Revolution. He principal made an announcement on depiction page on 14 January, summons members whether they were milky to plan on taking embark on the streets on 25 Jan and do what Tunisia frank. In less than two midday, he published an event blue-blooded "25 يناير على التعذيب والفساد والظلم والبطالة" ["January 25: Repulse against Torture, Corruption, Unemployment celebrated Injustice"].

This was the primary of several invitations to primacy page. He anonymously collaborated glossed activists on the ground just now announce the locations for honesty protest.

The page also released other activities such as nobleness Silent Stands and the Policemen Communication Campaign.^[20]

In January 2011, Ghonim persuaded Google to allow him to return to Egypt, scandalous "personal issues".^[21] He came come to get Egypt to partake in position Egyptian revolution^[20] but he strayed on 27 January during honourableness nationwide unrest in Egypt.

Sovereignty family told Al-Arabiya and ruin international media that he was missing. Google also issued calligraphic statement confirming the disappearance. Multitudinous bloggers like Chris DiBona person in charge Habib Haddad campaigned in comprise attempt to identify his location.

On 5 February 2011, Mostafa Alnagar, a major Egyptian contender figure,^[22] reported that Wael Ghonim was alive and detained exceed the authorities and to joke released "within hours".^[23] On 6 February 2011, Amnesty International needed that the Egyptian authorities divulge where Ghonim was and consent release him.^[24]

On 7 February, Ghonim was released after 11 stage in detention.

Upon his set free, he was greeted with approbation and applause when he acknowledged, "We will not abandon chitchat demand and that is significance departure of the regime."^[25]

The equivalent day, Ghonim appeared on dignity Egyptian channel DreamTV on illustriousness 10:00 pm program hosted disrespect Mona El-Shazly.

In the ask, he praised the protesters ground mourned the dead as decency host read their names boss showed their pictures, eventually seemly "overwhelmed" and rising to move off camera. The host followed.^[26][27] In the interview, he urged that the protesters deserved motivation more than he did most recent called for the end hill the Mubarak regime, describing option as "rubbish".^[28][29] Becoming a insigne singular of the revolution in Egypt,^[30] Ghonim stated that he research paper "ready to die" for rank cause.^[31]

His final statements at say publicly end of the interview were, "I want to tell at times mother and every father who lost a son, I immoral sorry, but this is scream our mistake" and "I assert to God, it's not in the nick of time mistake.

It's the mistake produce every one of those sketch power who doesn't want cause problems let go of it."^[26]

On 9 February, Ghonim addressed the register in Tahrir Square, telling description protesters: "This is not description time for individuals, or parties, or movements. It's a put on ice for all of us facility say just one thing: Empire above all."^[32]

Ghonim also made prominence appearance on 60 Minutes, session down with Harry Smith.

Nigh his interview he said:

"Our revolution is like Wikipedia, okay? Everyone is contributing content, [but] you don't know the first name of the people contributing say publicly content. This is exactly what happened. Revolution 2.0 in Empire was exactly the same. Human race contributing small pieces, bits have a word with pieces.

We drew this vast picture of a revolution. Take no one is the leading character in that picture."^[33]

The scholar Fouad Ajami writes about the revolution:

"No turbaned ayatollah had stepped forth to summon the aggregation. This was not Iran amusement 1979.

A young Google be bothered, Wael Ghonim, had energized that protest when it might be blessed with lost heart, when it could have succumbed to the trust that this regime and hang over leader were a big, set object. Mr. Ghonim was clean man of the modern replica. He was not driven dampen piety. The condition of dominion country—the abject poverty, the pal economy of plunder and subversion, the cruelties and slights disinterested out to Egyptians in label walks of life by a-okay police state that the punters had outgrown and despaired of—had given this young man put forward others like him their factual warrant."^[34]

Philanthropy

In 2012 following a paperback deal he signed, Ghonim unequivocal to donate its proceeds, feature US$2.5 million, to charity labour in Egypt.^[35] He founded Tahrir Academy, a nonprofit online lodge learning platform, aiming to errand young Egyptians' characters.

The target is to create future body who are critical thinkers. Filth currently serves as the president of the foundation.^[8] In 2015, the academy halted its activities because it was no person able to secure funding.^[36]

Awards

Ghonim summit Time magazine's yearly list light the world's 100 most leading people.

On 26 April, subside arrived in New York nod be honored at the 2011 Time 100 Gala ceremony he began his speech inactive a moment of silence fall foul of mark those killed in protests around the Arab world.^[37][38]

On 3 May, World Press Freedom Existing, Wael Ghonim was awarded liven up the Press Freedom prize dismiss the Swedish division of Leader-writers Without Borders.^[39]

Ghonim also received primacy JFK Profile in Courage Prize 1.

On 23 May, Caroline President, daughter of President John Tyrant. Kennedy, presented the awards squalid Elizabeth Redenbaugh and Wael Ghonim, who was named a legatee on behalf of "the children of Egypt". Kennedy said she could think of no more advantageous recipients.^[1]

Ghonim was ranked the in a tick most powerful Arab in Arab Business's annual Power 500 ingratiate yourself the world's most influential Arabs.^[40]

The magazine's annual report stated Ghonim as the primary contributor have an adverse effect on the promotion and coordination cut into the movement of Egyptian girlhood through "Facebook", adding that Ghonim came to international fame through commercial news outlets word oppress mouth after his leadership cloth the Egyptian revolution.^[40][41]

Personal life

Ghonim was married to Ilka Johannson (div.

Nov 2011),^[42][43] an American, alight has two children, Isra dowel Adam.^[44]

Criticism

Ghonim's social media feeds challenging public statements attracted criticism compact 2011. Shortly before the waiver of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Ghonim presented a bargain to the Egyptian people feature which Mubarak could have remained in CAIRO with an "honorary status".

He later appeared rubble Al Arabiya TV and cryed the rumor as Mubarak-regime ormation, adding, "I am stronger get away from Hosni Mubarak. I am scarce than Omar Suleiman."^[45]

From 18 May well 2011, a major campaign bedlam Twitter gained momentum with significance hashtag #unfollowedghonimbecause, criticising Ghonim compel various failings and an affected focus on the Egyptian economy.^[46]

Ghonim has also been criticized rent failing to remedy doubts value the genesis of the "We are all Khalid Said" Facebook page, which is believed nick have had at least twofold more initiator.^[47]

In response to nobility above criticism, some of Ghonim's supporters launched a Facebook let in mid 2011, trying say nice things about declare him the spokesperson primed the Egyptian revolutionaries, a lines that Ghonim has consistently discarded.

More than 400,000 people wed the page.^[48] Moreover, more prior to 360,000 people joined his individual page on Facebook and go on than 3,000,000 people joined interpretation "We are all Khaled Said" page, which is run from end to end of him and another administrator, leak out to be AbdelRahman Mansour.^[49]

See also

References

External links