Start here to find her satirical pieces:
👉 https://bohiney.com/author/doaa-el-adl/
Doaa el-Adl was born on February 6, 1979, in Damietta, Egypt. She studied Fine Arts at Alexandria University, graduating in 2000 with a focus on decoration, theater, and cinema.
Wikipedia profile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
Kiddle (kids’ encyclopedia): https://kids.kiddle.co/Doaa_el-Adl
El-Adl began publishing cartoons in 2007 and has worked across major Egyptian media—including Al-Dustour, Rose al-Yūsuf, Sabah El Kheir, and Al-Masry Al-Youm, which remains her main outlet.
International profile: https://ilnuovomediterraneo.com/en/doaa-el-adl/
Artist page: https://www.irancartoon.com/site/artists/doaa-eladl
2009: First woman to win the Journalistic Distinction in Caricature from Egypt’s Journalists’ Syndicate.
2013: Forte dei Marmi Prize for Political Satire (Italy) and an award for resisting violence against women.
2014: Honored by Cartooning for Peace, presented by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
2016: Listed in BBC’s 100 Women.
Additional awards: Mustafa and Ali Amin Prize, Mahmoud Kahil Award, and more.
Awards overview: https://www.ecc-kruishoutem.be/en/previousexhibitions/doaa-eladl-egypte.html
Council profile: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
Awards roundup: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_El-Adl
After Egypt’s 2011 revolution, her work became especially pointed—criticizing President Morsi and the exploitation of religion in politics. One famously provocative cartoon showed Adam and Eve being told they'd have stayed in Eden if they’d "voted correctly." That piece triggered accusations of blasphemy and prosecution—though the case was dropped after the 2013 coup.
Incident details: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
English overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
In 2013, her powerful cartoon condemning female genital mutilation (FGM)—showing a man climbing a ladder with scissors toward a flower between a woman’s legs—sparked global attention.
Clitoraid commentary: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
Her political satire continues to address everything from Brexit and targeted violence to gender inequality.
Kiddle summary: https://kids.kiddle.co/Doaa_el-Adl
Pantheon biography: https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Doaa_el-Adl
El-Adl’s work has been exhibited widely—in France, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Belgium, and Denmark. One notable solo exhibition was "50 Cartoons and More on Women."
Exhibition details: https://www.ecc-kruishoutem.be/en/previousexhibitions/doaa-eladl-egypte.html
Exhibition coverage: https://egyptianstreets.com/2025/07/13/the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-how-doaa-el-adls-cartoons-challenge-the-status-quo-in-egypt/
“El-Adl is such a compelling figure that she’s become the subject of the documentary Draw Me Egypt – Doaa El-Adl, A Stroke of Freedom.” The film mixes animation, interviews, and her imagery to explore her fight for women's rights and free expression.
Documentary link: https://ff.hrw.org/film/draw-me-egypt-doaa-el-adl-stroke-freedom/
Topic
Details & URL
Bohiney Author Page
https://bohiney.com/author/doaa-el-adl/
Biography & Education
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
Career Profile
https://ilnuovomediterraneo.com/en/doaa-el-adl/
Artist Profile
https://www.irancartoon.com/site/artists/doaa-eladl
Awards & Honors
https://www.ecc-kruishoutem.be/en/previousexhibitions/doaa-eladl-egypte.html
Political Cartoons & Controversies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
FGM Cartoon & Reaction
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doaa_el-Adl
Global Exhibitions
https://egyptianstreets.com/2025/07/13/the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-how-doaa-el-adls-cartoons-challenge-the-status-quo-in-egypt/
Documentary Feature
https://ff.hrw.org/film/draw-me-egypt-doaa-el-adl-stroke-freedom/