Al Ahrar (weekly)
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| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Liberal Party |
| Publisher | Liberal Party |
| Founded | November 1977 |
| Political alignment | Liberal |
| Language | Arabic |
| Ceased publication | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Cairo |
| Country | Egypt |
Al Ahrar (Arabic: الأحرار, lit. 'the Free' or 'the Liberal') was a weekly newspaper published in Cairo, Egypt, from 1977 to 2013. The paper was the official media outlet of the Liberal Party.[1][2]
Al Ahrar was established during the Sadat era in 1977 and was based in Cairo.[3][4] The first issue appeared in November that year.[5]
It was one of the highest circulation papers in the country owned by a political party.[6] The weekly had a liberal political leaning and was one of the major opposition publications in Egypt.[7][8] In November 1982 Al Ahrar attacked the advertisements of the Islamic investment companies.[9] It supported Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's liberal and capitalist economy policies and also, fast harmony with the Western countries.[10] On the other hand, Al Ahrar was one of the major critics of Baháʼí Egyptians.[11]
As of 1996 the editor-in-chief of the paper was Mustapha Bakri who had a Nasserist political stance.[12] Due to his support for Gamal Abdel Nasser the chairman of the Liberal Party Mustafa Kamel Murad who was a member of the Free Officers movement fired Bakri.[12] Bakri attempted to continue his editorship, but was forced to resign from the post through the intervention of Egyptian security forces.[12] Al Ahrar sold 5,000 copies in 2005.[3] In 2013, the paper ceased publication.[13]