Moez Masoud

Moez Masoud has written various dissertations and essays on religious identity and the interface between different strands of Abrahamic theology and cosmology, biology and neuroscience. His current research at the University of Cambridge focuses on the interface between evolutionary science in its various historical forms and both classical Islamic theology and philosophy.

In 2013 Masoud wrote "An Analysis of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri's "Call to Global Islamic Resistance" which was published in the Journal of Strategic Security in Spring 2013.[15]

Masoud was a contributor to the 'On Faith' online forum, hosted by The Washington Post and Newsweek in discussions centered around faith and religion.[16]

Masoud and his work have been referenced in numerous academic and scholarly works including journals such as, Arab Media & Society,[17] Media, Culture & Society,[18] Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute,[19] Critical Discourse Studies,[20] People, Place and Region,[21] Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication,[22] Nations and Nationalism,[23] Arts & Culture,[24] International Journal of Instruction,[25] Journal of Islamic Studies,[26] Northern Lights: Film & Media Studies Yearbook [27] and the United States Institute of Peace.[28]

Masoud has also been cited in various books including, "The Challenge of Political Islam" by Rachel M. Scott, "Global and Local Televangelism" ed. P. N. Thomas & P. Lee, "Igniting Thought, Unleashing Youth" ed. M. Nawab & F. Ali, "Maqasid al-Shari'a and Contemporary Reformist Muslim Thought: An Examination" ed. A. Duderija, "Revolutionary Egypt" ed. R. Abou-El-Fadl, "Modest Fashion" ed. R. Lewis, "Consumption and Spirituality" ed. D. Rinallo, L. Scott & P. Maclaran and "Politics of Modern Muslim Subjectivities" ed. D. Jung, M. J. Peterson & S. L. Sparre.

Masoud's 2011 television series was called "Thawra 'ala Al-Nafs" (A Revolution Within), and aired on Egyptian state television for the first time (Masoud - like various influential figures - was banned from appearing on official state TV during Mubarak's reign). It also aired on CBC, a post-revolution popular Egyptian satellite channel, and as a radio segment on Nogoum FM, Cairo's no. 1 radio station, making it accessible to millions of viewers and listeners across the country. Both the TV and radio versions of 'A Revolution Within' continue to receive much critical acclaim. Masoud went on to make a sequel of that show the following year titled "Rihlat al Yaqeen" (The Journey to Certitude).[30]

Starting July 10, 2013, Masoud released his latest show throughout Ramadan. The show was named "Khutuwat Al-Shaytan" (Satan's steps), which was predicted to be an exceptional success and therefore was requested by many channels to broadcast. The rights went to five channels such as Abu Dhabi Al Oula, Al Emirat, CBC, CBC+2, alongside the broadcast on Nogoum FM, considered the most popular station in Egyptian radio. "Khutuwat Al-Shaytan" was ranked as one of the top 10 most viewed series in Ramadan that year.[31] Masoud also aired a sequel of "Khutuwat Al-Shaytan" in Ramadan 2014 which was also popularly received and aired on MBC 1.[32]

Masoud has produced, composed and co-written many 'hit' songs in the last decade, including most recently in 2016, the single "Ya Rehla" featuring Amir Eid.[33] Masoud's previous songs have included the extremely popular "Tetgawezeeni", performed by Hani Adel,[34] "Al-Tareeq Al-Sahh", performed by Mahmoud El Esseily[35] as well as publicly composing and performing his own personal rendition of "Qad Kafani", a famous poem written by Imam al Haddad.[36]

Masoud produced, alongside Mohamed Hefzy and Eric Lagesse, the Egyptian film "Clash" which was the opening film in the official selection of the Un Certain Regard category at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016.[37] The film is set in a police truck and features a group of demonstrators from across the divisions of Egyptian society forced together during the violent protests in Cairo in June 2013. The film was hailed as "one of the most telling depictions of modern Egypt yet filmed",[38] and was produced by EMC Pictures, a sister company of Acamedia Pictures (see above). On August 31, 2016, Egypt officially selected Acamedia's film "Clash" to represent it in the Oscars' 2017 Best Foreign Language Film race.

Masoud also produced the film "Brotherhood" based on the storyline of the series "Khutuwat Al-Shaytan 2". The story is set in post-revolution Cairo where Malik, embroiled in an outlawed religious organization, falls in love with Nada who recently joined his work. However, he soon discovers that her brother and father are police members of the Ministry of the Interior, and whilst Malik increasingly feels uneasy with the organisation he is conflicted about leaving. When Nada's father, General Ibrahim, is killed, Malik is accused and violent conflict ensues between Malik and Nada's brother, Major Ramez.[39]

In May 2019, Variety reported Masous was developing a movie called Hello Brother based on the Christchurch mosque shootings that had occurred on 15 March 2019.[40][41] His proposed film project was criticised by the Muslim Association of Canterbury, Al Noor Masjid, and New Zealand filmmaker Jason Lei Howken for exploiting the mass shootings and failing to consult the Christchurch Muslim community.[42] In August 2021, The New Zealand Herald reported that the film was on hold.[43]

Masoud spoke at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Dialogue in Geneva, December 2015, representing the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. He addressed the current situation of refugees, focusing on root causes of ideological-based conflict based on his widely circulated academic journal article, "An Analysis of Abu Mus'ab al-Suri's "Call to Global Islamic Resistance",[44] and offered insights into what the global community could do to help.[45]

In December 2016 Masoud gave the keynote address at the annual United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Dialogue (UNHCR) in Geneva. He highlighted the importance of youth and children and the specific issues they face, particularly refugees, and proposed various radical solutions to engage and deal with these challenges.

Masoud also attended the Council of Europe's first World Forum for Democracy,[46] and spoke at its key event, alongside Nobel Laureates and other personalities. His speech addressed various issues regarding the role of the media in a globalised context.

Masoud participated in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of 2012 in Davos, Switzerland.[47] He shared panels with many of the world's leading scientists, religious leaders, philanthropists and youth activists, among others.[48] Masoud's message was primarily a philosophical and psychological analysis of the challenges that he believed the Arab world would inevitably face in the few years that would follow the "Arab Spring", including issues of identity for Arabs and an overview of the requirements for renewal within the contemporary Islamic paradigm.[49]

Masoud participated in the post-Tahrir Egyptian National Dialogue alongside a group of the nation's leading figures in various disciplines.[50] His nationally televised speech addressed the need to attend to root causes of ideologically based conflict, and issues of national identity.