#DD

Al Munathara is the Initiative’s flagship regional debate program that has been running for more than eight years and 26 episodes. Al Munathara debates are open for all Arabic speakers and have been broadcasted on at least 10 television stations across the Arab region under the hashtag #DD.

Al Munathara is a series of TV debates with a regional focus on major issues affecting Arabic speaking citizens in the MENA region. From its humble beginnings in 2012, Al Munathara has sought to harness the powerful nexus between broadcast television and social media to empower citizens to voice their opinions, constructively engage those they disagree with, and learn from the experiences of fellow MENA citizens in other countries.

Leading up to each live debate, The Munathara Initiative launches Al Munathara Musabaqa in the form of an online competition which will be disseminated on our social media pages and official website. Arabic speakers from across the world are then invited to upload a 99-second video to either support or oppose a given motion.

At the same time, The Munathara Initiative organizes training sessions across 15 different countries both in the Arab world and in Europe in order to support marginalized Arab speaking communities and provide them with the opportunity to be equally heard. Our trainers provide debate skills training to these communities and encourage as well as facilitate the participation of youth and women in the online competition.

The videos gathered from both Munathara’s online campaign and outreach program then pass to a public voting stage, where Arab speakers from across the world vote for the arguments and participants they find most persuasive.

The winners with the most votes move to participate in the Live #DD debates, each teaming up with an established opinion leader with equal speaking time to debate for or against the presented motion.

During the main event, the audience votes before and after the debate. The winning team is then chosen based on their ability to sway more votes to their side, making Al Munathara #DD debates audience-centred.

The debate series deals with core issues facing citizens in all MENA societies, including human rights, regional conflicts, authoritarianism, economic challenges, the refugee crisis, womens’ role in public life, social justice, minority rights, freedom of speech, and the prospect for democracy in the region.

#DD

Jul, 02 2014

Arab Women's Participation: Only through Quotas?

The first instalment of Munathara's Policy Debates, and the organization's first live debate in Yemen, #DD11 was held on July 2, 2014, on the motion: "Arab Women's Participation - Only through Quotas?

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#DD

Sep, 18 2013

Is Tunisia Facing Bankruptcy?

On October 9, 2013, Munathara held its live debate #DD10, on the motion, “Is Tunisia Facing Bankruptcy?” Broadcast on Hannibal TV in Tunisia, the debate featured two young winners of our tenth program cycle, debating alongside the former transitional Minister of Finance Slim Besbes, and renowned

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#DD

Sep, 10 2013

Is Foreign Military Intervention the only Option Left in Syria?

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, we have heard a never-ending stream of opinions and opinions from analysts and experts about the situation in Syria. We have heard from foreign leaders, political factions, and those engaged in the fighting on the ground.

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#DD

Dec, 18 2012

Is Arab Political Unity our Destiny?

Held in Amman, Jordan, Munathara’s seventh live debate tackled the question: Is Arab political unity our destiny? At a time when the positive momentum of the Arab Spring was seen as waning, the initiative stimulated a pan-Arab debate about the long-term vision for the region.

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