Following the Dubai Debates’ suspension in the spring of 2012, the first edition of Munathara was held in late June 2012. With the new brand, the initiative also introduced Musabaqat Munathara ¬– our popular online debate competition open to all. Following several weeks of voting, two winners emerged as opinion leaders on the question of freedom of expression in the new Arab world: Esraa Al Shaikh from Jordan and Ichrak Mtar from Tunisia, both female youth from outside the major population centers of their respective countries.

The event also featured Egyptian-American activist Mona Eltahawy, as well as Riadh Chaibi, a senior member of the Tunisian Ennahda movement. Participants openly debated a range of related questions that are rarely discussed publicly in the Arab world, including religion, blasphemy and nudity. The debate was broadcast in full by Tunisna TV.