Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, inaugurated the Middle East qualifying events for the Oxford Price Moot Court Competition in Media Law 2024/2025. The event was attended by Ms. Eliza Bechtold, Program Director at the University of Oxford, Dr. Hawley Johnson, Director of the Global Freedom of Expression Initiative at Columbia University, USA, Dr. Ahmed Khalifa, Middle East Coordinator for the competition, and a number of distinguished academics, judges, lawyers, ambassadors, and legal practitioners.

In his opening speech on the first day of the conference, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen welcomed the distinguished guests, expressing his appreciation for their participation, which reflects a shared commitment to promoting excellence in legal education and the rule of law.

He also expressed his great pride in leading one of the most prominent higher education institutions in Egypt, which boasts a legacy of decades of academic and research excellence. Ain Shams University, which houses the Faculty of Law under the leadership of Prof. Mohamed Safi, Dean of the Faculty, is one of the oldest and most respected faculties in the region. The faculty embraces a vision of equipping students with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of contemporary legal challenges.

The President of Ain Shams University further noted that the university has a strong history of collaboration with the University of Oxford. It first hosted the Middle East rounds of this competition in 2015, and several years later, in 2022, this partnership was formalized through the signing of an agreement at Oxford, reaffirming their commitment to working together to enhance legal education. He emphasized that it is a great honor to continue this tradition and host such an outstanding event once again.

He also expressed his happiness in expanding the partnership by welcoming Columbia University as a new academic partner, adding that the inclusion of such prestigious institutions strengthens their shared mission of nurturing the next generation of legal professionals through exposure to international legal perspectives and best practices.

At the end of his speech, he expressed his deep appreciation for everyone who contributed to making this event possible, emphasizing the pride of Ain Shams University in serving as the regional host for this prestigious competition, with participants not only from various Egyptian universities but also from universities across the Middle East.

It is worth noting that the Oxford Price Moot Court Competition in Media Law holds a special place in legal education, offering a new approach to legal learning by providing an interactive experience for students that sharpens their analytical and problem-solving skills.

The first session addressed contemporary issues in media law by exploring the evolving legal landscape. Dr. Hawley Johnson, Director of the Global Freedom of Expression Initiative at Columbia University, USA, and Ms. Juliana Da Cunha Mota, Researcher at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford, UK, spoke during this session. The session was moderated by Mr. Ibrahim Sabra, Researcher, Department of Innovation at the University of Vienna.

The second session of the conference discussed the topic of artificial intelligence, media, and legal practice, bridging the gap between innovation and regulation. The speakers were Prof. Yassin El-Shazly, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at the Faculty of Law, Ain Shams University, and Co-Founder of El-Fishawy Shazly & Partners Law Firm, and Ms. Mai Ali, Vice President, Technology, Middle East & Africa, Moharram & Partners in Public Affairs and Strategic Communications. The session was moderated by Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad, Co-Founder of Adsero - Rajhi Suleiman & Partners Law Firm.

The final session addressed advocacy skills through an interactive session on enhancing legal advocacy techniques, led by Ms. Nevina Krivokapik, International Coordinator of the Oxford Price Moot Court Competition in Media Law.

This event will take place from February 1 to 4. The first day's program included a conference on media regulation in the digital age, while the competition matches will take place from February 2 to 4, with teams from Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Iraq participating. The winning teams from the qualifiers will advance to the international competition held at the University of Oxford in the last week of April 2025.