How a Man Writes About Women: The Novel “Commander Zahra” and the Book “From Fear to Freedom”

In this session, we present the two latest works by writer and novelist Khaled Mansour: a book on the life of psychoanalyst Afaf Mahfouz, followed by a novel about five women from Kabul attempting to flee Afghanistan.

Why did he embark on this literary journey? What challenges did he face, and how did he overcome them?

• Is there a difference between writing a biography with its subject versus an autobiography?
• Can a man truly help a woman tell her life story?

Abdulrahim Youssef engages in a dialogue with Khaled Mansour about:

• His experiences in journalism and humanitarian work in war zones with the United Nations.
• His transition to writing and his collaboration with Afaf Mahfouz to document her remarkable life—from Minya in Upper Egypt to Florida, USA.
• His novel on Afghanistan and how his professional background and travels influenced his fiction and journalistic writing.
• How he balances reportage and literary writing.

About Khaled Mansour:

A veteran with 30 years in human rights, humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, journalism, and media across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

• Worked in journalism for 10 years (Egypt, South Africa, USA) before joining the UN in 1999 for 13+ years.
• Served as Executive Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
• Since 2015, he has focused on writing, research, and teaching in literature, humanitarian work, and human rights in conflict zones.

Notable Works:

• “From Fear to Freedom” (2023) – The biography of Afaf Mahfouz.
• “Minefield” (2022) – A novel.
• “From Taliban to Taliban” (2022) – Observations from Afghanistan.
• “October’s Memory: Manifestations of War in Egyptian Culture” (2024, editor).

Current Roles:

• Executive Board Member, Crisis Action (advocating for civilians in conflict zones).
• Independent Oversight Board Member, Meta (Facebook & Instagram).
• Board Member, Action for Hope (cultural initiatives in conflict areas).

Education: Degrees in engineering, archaeology, sociology, and international relations from Mansoura, Cairo, Witwatersrand (South Africa), and Tufts (USA).

Moderator: Abdulrahim Youssef

• Egyptian poet and translator (b. 1975).
• Published 8 poetry collections in Egyptian Arabic and 34 translated books.
• Former assistant editor of MENA cultural magazine.
• Translator for Human Rights Watch, UNESCO, UNFPA, and Mada Masr.
• Winner of Egypt’s State Encouragement Award for Translated Intellectual Works (2017) for “Three Studies on Ethics and Virtue” by Bernard Mandeville.

Event Details:

 Venue: Jesuit Cultural Center
 Date & Time: To be announced
 Free admission (registration required).

 Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR0Si-WbMkXiD-vZ0TmRz2tP4KB8e6yEomN7rG1of78K0xCA/viewform

(Limited seats available—early registration recommended!)

AI generated translation.