You Have Not Yet Been Defeated

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By Alaa Abd el-Fattah & Naomi Klein

Publisher Description

Powerful ideas of protest and freedom of expression from the world-renowned Egyptian political prisoner and activist collected in English for the first time. With a foreword by Naomi Klein.

"The text you are holding is living history." — Naomi Klein, from the foreword

Alaa Abd el-Fattah is arguably the most high-profile political prisoner in Egypt, if not the Arab world, rising to international prominence during the revolution of 2011. A fiercely independent thinker who fuses politics and technology in powerful prose, an activist whose ideas represent a global generation which has only known struggle against a failing system, a public intellectual with the rare courage to offer personal, painful honesty, Alaa’s written voice came to symbolize much of what was fresh, inspiring and revolutionary about the uprisings that have defined the last decade. Collected here for the first time in English are a selection of his essays, social media posts and interviews from 2011 until the present. He has spent the majority of those years in prison, where many of these pieces were written. Together, they present not only a unique account from the frontline of a decade of global upheaval, but a catalogue of ideas about other futures those upheavals could yet reveal. From theories on technology and history to profound reflections on the meaning of prison, You Have Not Yet Been Defeated is a book about the importance of ideas, whatever their cost.

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4 Reviews

4.5

chantel nx

Created about 2 months ago

“I've been reading this book for two years, and you might wonder why. The truth is, it was a lot to absorb! Especially as you watch everything that is going on internationally and know that in your heart — Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s words reflect millions of unheard stories and a multitude of injustice happening everywhere as I write this. That someone and their family could be held in this manner is beyond reason. The fact that people and their families can be bombed, and uprooted from their lands by violence and force will always be madness to me. Being stripped of their dignity, and silenced through corrupt and morally bankrupt systems is beyond reason. It feels significant to me that I finally finished this book today, August 10, 2024, on Prisoner’s Justice Day. I have some more thoughts about this work.. I think that Abd el-Fattah’s words cut through the silence of isolation, and is a loud echo of the cries of people seeking for freedom and justice. He is a remarkable writer, fully aware that the power to change the world lies with the youth. No matter the hardship he endures, and the indignities they try to heap onto him; stripping him, beatings, keeping him from his family and children, immoral check-in practices, he still continues to use his voice. His voice is sharp and he clearly dictates the levels of barbarism that is prevalent in Egypt, in Palestine and in a variety of other nations. He illustrates how countries attempt to silence folks by ripping away their ability to communicate and get the news out to their people, by limiting books and more, things that are happening in North America as well. He’s very clear how Egypt’s attempt to silence dissent by cutting off communication, restricting access to information and the internet, are methods that folks everywhere should be paying attention to in this digital age. We see that in Gaza right now. The book ends with his essay on Palestine and how they are always and have always been on his mind. One thing I will say is that each letter in this book, the texts, the essays the things that his family were able to smuggle out from the jail to provide to the waiting public.. the public demanding to hear from him— each of these essays are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and standing tall against the crushing force of oppression. Bob Marley's words come to mind: "Who God bless, no man can curse," and "God shall pass the worst." That spirit is palpable in this book. You feel that here. You Have Not Yet Been Defeated is not just a book; it’s a reflection, a resistance, a heartbeat - the telltale heart beating that everyone can hear in the dark places. It’s persistent in its execution, it’s unyielding, and it reminds us that the fight for dignity, for human rights, is never truly defeated as long as there are voices willing to speak. It shares that our words can really be our greatest weapon. This book shares a lot in common with “We Have Tired of Violence” detailing war crimes and political corruption against the community in Indonesia as well. It was a really intense and necessary read.”

Peripetia

Created 9 months ago

“This is an incredibly impactful read and definitely required reading for all aspiring revolutionaries. The book consists of different writings, speeches, and radio vists Abd El-Fattah has done. Some of the texts are very focused on Egypt's internal issues and can be difficult to read. You do glean useful information from them as well. Abd El-Fattah is a living legend and, as far as I can tell, still in prison. His fight is not over, even if in his book, he is close to admitting defeat. I hope that the "international community" remembers him as they quietly gloss over Egypt's glaring human rights violations to turn a profit.”

Grant Klausen

Created about 2 years ago

Nancy El Zein

Created over 2 years ago

“A must read”

About Alaa Abd el-Fattah

Alaa Abd el-Fattah is an Egyptian writer, technologist and political activist. He has been prosecuted or arrested by every Egyptian regime to rule in his lifetime and has been held in prison for all but a few months since the coup d’état of 2013. Collected here by his family and friends, for the first time in English, are a selection of his speeches, interviews, social media posts and essays since the outbreak of revolution in January 2011—many written from inside prison.