Anwar Sadat

Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat (???? ??????????? in Arabic) (December 25, 1918 – October 6, 1981) was an Egyptian politician and served as the President of Egypt from September 28, 1970 until his assassination on October 6, 1981.

Assassination

In September of 1981, Sadat cracked down on Muslim organizations and Coptic organizations, including student groups; the arrests totalled nearly 1600, earning worldwide condemnation for the extremity of his techniques. Meanwhile, internal support for Sadat disappeared under the pressure of an economic crisis and Sadat's suppression of dissidents.

Related Topics:
1981 - Coptic

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On October 6, the month after the crackdown, Sadat was assassinated during a parade in Cairo by army members who were part of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization. They opposed Sadat's negotiations with Israel, as well as his use of force in the September crackdown. A fatwa approving the assassination had been obtained from Omar Abdel-Rahman, a cleric later convicted in the U.S. for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Though Sadat was protected by four layers of security, the army parade was considered safe due to ammunition-seizure rules; but the officers in charge of that procedure were on hajj to Mecca.

Related Topics:
October 6 - Assassinated - Cairo - Egyptian Islamic Jihad - Fatwa - Omar Abdel-Rahman - 1993 World Trade Center bombing - Ammunition - Hajj - Mecca

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As air force Mirage jets flew overhead, distracting the crowd, a troop truck halted before the Presidential reviewing stand, and a lieutenant strode forward. Sadat stood to receive his salute, whereupon the assassins rose from the truck, throwing grenades and firing assault rifle rounds. The assassin Khalid Islambouli shouted "Death to the Pharaoh!" as he ran toward the stand and then fired into Sadat's crumpled and lifeless body. As the crowd of dignitaries scattered, many were wounded, including Foreign Minister (future U.N Secretary General) Boutros Boutros Ghali and visiting diplomats including James Tully, the Irish Minister for Defence, and four US military liaisons. In the ensuing firefight, seven people were killed, including the Cuban ambassador and a Greek Orthodox priest, and 28 were wounded. Sadat's bullet-riddled body was rushed to a hospital, but he was declared dead within hours, and succeeded by his Vice-President Hosni Mubarak, who was uninjured in the attack.

Related Topics:
Mirage - Assault rifle - Khalid Islambouli - Pharaoh - Wounded - U.N - Secretary General - Boutros Boutros Ghali - James Tully - Irish Minister for Defence - Cuba - Greek Orthodox - Vice-President - Hosni Mubarak

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