Doaa el-Adl – Egyptian Cartoonist

Doaa el-Adl is a cartoonist that is a pioneer in a field dominated by men. She believes that art is the best way to change taboos, and used satirical messages with strong political, religious or social meanings.

As Egypt’s “most famous female cartoonist,” el-Adl has received a lot of attention and created controversy. In fact, she works for a newspaper, the Al Masry Al Youm, which has put her in the public eye. She has also worked for Rose Al Youssef Magazine, Al Dostor, and Sabah El Kheir Magazine, as well as, illustrates for Alaa-El Din, Qatr El Nada, and Bassem.

El-Adl created controversy over a cartoon that was published in the Al Masry Al Youm newspaper. The illustration had an angel telling Adam and Eve that they were welcome to stay in the Garden of Eden but only if they “voted for the right candidate”.

In 2009, el-Adl took home the Journalistic Distinction in Caricature award and was the first female to receive the award. Then Doaa was named by BBC as one of the 100 more inspirational and influential women in 2016. She stated that Arab women have a choice between being a hostage of conflict and war or resisting.

The feminine name Doaa originates from Arabic and means “prayer to God”, “prayer”, “supplication”, or “a call made to Allah for his help and care”. The name is a variation of Dua and is mentioned at least 16 times in the Quran. It is a common name in many Arabic cultures given to many notable people, like Doaa Elghobashy an Egyptian beach volleyball player.