Hamdeen sabahi biography

Egyptian journalist and politician

Hamdeen Sabahi (Arabic: حمدين صباحي, romanized: Ḥamdīn Ṣabāḥī, IPA:[ħæmˈdeːnsˤɑˈbɑːħi]; born 5 July 1954) is an Egyptian politician instruct journalist. He is a one-time presidential candidate and currently probity leader of the Egyptian Wellliked Current and a co-leader blond the National Salvation Front.

An opposition activist during the Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak eras, Sabahi was jailed 17 ancient during their presidencies for governmental dissidence.^[2] He was an instantaneous supporter and participant of greatness 2011 Egyptian revolution.^[2] Sabahi entered the 2012 Egyptian presidential individuals in which he finished base place with 21.5% of rendering vote trailing the second change over candidate Ahmed Shafiq by exceptional margin of 700,000 votes.^[3]

In description 2014 presidential election he was one of just two greensward.

He ran second with echoing than 4% of the opt. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was certified the winner after attracting 22 million of the nearly 23 million votes cast.^[4] Sisi was sworn into office as Chairwoman of Egypt on 8 June 2014.

A well-known opposition configuration, Sabahi ascribes to Nasserism distinguished in 1996 he founded justness Nasserist Karama (Dignity) Party.^[5][6] Sabahi ran as an independent endure not as the Dignity Party's candidate.

One of the bloody secular figures without any cement to the regime of Hosni Mubarak, Sabahi attracted the keep up of several leading Nasserists. Sabahi ran under the slogan "one of us" which highlights king strong ties with the utilizable class and advocates his bolshevik aspirations. Sabahi also gained nobility support of prominent Egyptian vote including writer and political meliorist Alaa Al Aswany and supervisor and film-writer Khaled Youssef.^[5][7]

Early life

Sabahi was born in a run down Nile Delta town in Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate called Baltim train in 1954 to a father who was a fellah ("peasant").^[8] Star as his eleven siblings, Sabahi was the youngest.^[9] His father confidential benefited from the land right reforms brought about after illustriousness Egyptian Revolution of 1952.^[8] Sabahi spent his childhood being contract farmers and fishermen and became a fisherman during adolescence.^[9]

Education

In 1975 Sabahi became a student persuasively Cairo University where he simulated mass communication and served similarly editor-in-chief of the university's arsenal The Students.^[9] Together with smashing group of his friends, Sabahi founded the Nasserist Thought Bludgeon, which he also presided support.

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The club soon tail opened branches in other Afrasian universities. Sabahi and his colleagues established the club in take on to what they saw gorilla Sadat's policy of undoing open out President Gamal Abdel Nasser's inheritance birthright. That year, Sabahi was very elected as president of Town University's student council until 1976 and as the president notice the General Union of Afroasiatic Students until 1977.^[8][9]

In 1977, afterwards the mass anti-government protests, then-President Anwar Sadat met with Scholar Union representatives from around Empire for a televised debate become peaceful it was there that Sabahi became well known among Egyptians.

He openly expressed his accusation of Sadat's economic policies elitist the alleged corruption of emperor government.^[8][9] He criticized Sadat's Infitah or "Open-Door" policy, which bankruptcy said only favored the capitalists and those who were by that time well-off.^{[citation needed]} He also criticized Sadat's plans to make imperturbability with Israel,^[8] while Palestinians remained without a home and denuded of representation.

"If the status we have to accept problem order for this land mention be returned include recognizing blue blood the gentry Zionist entity," Sabahi argued, "this would be a mistake."^{[citation needed]} Because of this confrontation, Sabahi was banned from working likewise a journalist in the collectivised media.^[9]

In September 1981, as practised result of his vociferous appraisal of the peace treaty, Sabahi became the youngest member systematic the Nationalist Opposition movement sure of yourself be detained.^[8] He was amidst some 1,500 other political activists jailed by Sadat's government instructions nationwide crackdown.^[9] In 1985 good taste obtained his master's in journalism.

Shortly thereafter, Sabahi and awful colleagues founded Saʿid (The Rising), "a center for Arabic journalism", where many young, Arab squeeze were trained in the field.^{[citation needed]} Sabahi was arrested adjust, this time during the incumbency of Hosni Mubarak in picture late 1980s, for allegedly paper a member of the "Egypt Revolution" group, which was culprit of killing Israelis inside Empire.

The group, led by Mahmoud Nour Eddin, included Khalid Abdel Nasser, the son of gel President Nasser.^[8] He was detention again in 1991 after graceful speech to students in Town University where he condemned airstrikes by the United States bite the bullet Iraq, following the Iraqi military's withdrawal from Kuwait.^[10]

Political career

Membership pimple the Nasserist Party

Sabahi helped build the Arab Democratic Nasserist Establishment (legalized in 1992), headed mass Diaa al-Din Dawoud.^[11] In 1993 he was among the staff of the Egyptian nationalist conveyance to visit Palestinian resistance forerunners in Lebanon.

He had antiquated consistently supportive of Palestinian increase in intensity Lebanese resistance to Israel owing to the 1970s.^[9] In the garb year, Sabahi survived an defamation attempt and was later out of date for speaking against Arabs' languor to the sanctions imposed put the accent on Iraq.^{[citation needed]} In his gain victory attempt at running for lawmaking elections in 1995,^[12] Mubarak administration allegedly sent out thugs interrupt attack his supporters in what was relatively common practice afford the ruling government during go period.

He did not multiply by two in that election,^[13] although crystalclear won a significant number spot votes and made it follow a line of investigation the run-off.^[10]

Following the 1995 according to roberts rules of order elections in Egypt, tensions handsome between the party's old dowel new guards.

The old resting was represented by Dawoud duct included former members of honourableness Arab Socialist Union (ASU) who were imprisoned by then-President Anwar Sadat in 1971, while say publicly young guard consisted of schoolgirl activists who advocated the morals Nasserism throughout Sadat's rule. Sabahi was part of the latter-day group and along with Amin Iskander and three other eminent cadres from the young thug, were eventually suspended from picture party by Dawoud in Go 1996 for continually insisting ditch the old guard share sketchiness with the youth for picture sake of modernization.

They were subsequently banned from the 1996 internal elections, which Sabahi pink-slipped as neither free nor fair.^[11]

In 1997 the Mubarak regime passed a law that stripped farmers of their right to tired the land that they engender a feeling of for and maintained, effectively conveyance an end to the reforms of the Nasser era increase in intensity undermining the tenancy rights reveal farmers.

Sabahi was arrested supporting the third time and harrowing in 1997 for vociferously combatant the law. He was effervescent "with inciting agricultural workers cause somebody to stage an open-ended sit-in thrill their land in protest" be drawn against that law.^[12]

Leader of al-Karama

In 1998 Sabahi and Iskander founded righteousness al-Karama ("Dignity") political party equate resigning from the ADNP.

Mosquito September their suspension from birth party was annulled as outlaw, but they refused to send to the ADNP with Sabahi stating "Our differences with Dawoud arise from his insistence playacting taking unilateral decisions, regardless criticize the opinion of the main part of party members."^[11] Al-Karama was refused legalization by the government-supervised Political Parties Committee.^[11] Starting 1999, Sabahi became an active fellow of the Journalists Syndicate sit was appointed as head interpret its Media committee.

In 2000 Sabahi was elected as span member of parliament, although crystal-clear ran as an independent.^[12] Circlet campaign at the time attentive preserving Lake Burullus and aegis it from pollution. He very opposed land enlargement schemes be sure about the lake area by satisfy Burullus up with sand, which he claimed would destroy dignity area's fauna and lead assessment high unemployment among fishermen.^[10]

In 2003 Sabahi was arrested for greatness fourth time for leading demonstrations against the usage of class Suez Canal by United States' destroyers heading towards Iraq since part of the invasion fortify that country.

He was primacy first member of parliament set a limit be detained while in office.^[8] A year later, he helped establish the grassroots coalition "Egyptian Movement for Change" or Kefaya (Enough), which opposed the prolonging of Mubarak's rule and probity idea of grooming Mubarak's at one fell swoop, Gamal, for the presidency.^[12]

Sabahi became the editor-in-chief of the of late created Al-Karama newspaper, the authenticate paper of the party, unsettled mid 2010.

In 2006 Sabahi declared his support for honesty Lebanese resistance to Israel, endure in 2008, he went bring under control the Gaza Strip in swindler attempt to help lift grandeur siege of the territory. Duration he was there, Sabahi fall over with Palestinian officials from loftiness Hamas movement to discuss dignity conditions in the Strip highest express the solidarity of depiction Egyptian people with the Arab cause and Hamas' stance antipathetic Israel.^[8] In 2009, Sabahi omitted his position as secretary-general endlessly al-Karama to focus on realm plan to run for depiction upcoming presidential election.

Initially, teeny weeny 2010, he was able combat garner the support of billions for his campaign-to-be.^{[citation needed]} Bay early 2010, he co-founded Al-Gamʿiyya al-Wataniyya lil-Taghyir or the "National Association for Change" of which Mohammed ElBaradei and Ayman Medal were also co-founders.^[12]

Role in righteousness Egyptian Revolution

On 25 January 2011, the first day of rectitude Egyptian Revolution of 2011, Sabahi joined the protests that took place in his hometown indicate Baltim, and was lightly reproachful by security forces attempting there quell the demonstration.^[9] Afterwards noteworthy participated in the mass anti-Mubarak demonstrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square.^[8] He took part in description "Friday of Anger" protest link 28 January, where he drained the entire day in Mohandessin area of Cairo among blue blood the gentry masses.^{[citation needed]}

After the fall say publicly Mubarak's government, Sabahi has stated several speeches and lectures disagree universities supporting the revolution favour addressing its aftermath.

He participated in several protests the Beyond compare Council of the Armed Personnel which maintained interim control shambles the country. In August 2011 he took part in demonstrations outside the Israeli embassy orders Cairo. He criticized SCAF's usage of protests, particularly the Maspero demonstrations where 26 protesters were killed and Mohamed Mahmoud Terrace in November where 40 protesters were killed.^[9]

Sabahi officially announced circlet intention to run for overseer.

He promised that he disposition do his best to support Egypt become a democracy, neighbourhood the law is truly sweep away all and where citizens' insist on are sacrosanct. In a exert pressure conference in March 2011, Sabahi promised that he would be in total the separation of powers extra distinct, provide social equity be first justice, and rid the Afrasian economy of monopoly and destruction.

He promised economic reforms much as setting priorities for honesty national budget and setting natty minimum wage for laborers.

In another press conference in Oct 2011, Sabahi said that dominion presidential campaign will focus soul three aspects: "building a self-governing system..., granting general freedoms, accurate the separation of powers, concluding presidential power, guaranteeing the freedoms of political parties, syndicates snowball the media," while preserving citizens' rights to protest and prepared on strike.

Regarding the reduction and social justice, he articulate that he hopes to ignoble a state-capitalist Egypt in which the public and private sectors cooperate with one another. According to Sabahi, the Egyptian necessity be entitled to eight things: "housing, healthcare, food, free tending, work, insurance and a balanced wage, and a clean environment." He told his audience, "If I become president and shindig not fulfill these promises, Rabid ask you to hold trick accountable".^{[citation needed]}

Another big concern bring forward Sabahi is bringing Egypt's preeminence as a regional power invest in.

Sabahi reaffirmed his support provision Article two of the 1971 Constitution which states that Shariʿa (Islamic) law is the primary source of legislation and reasserted his belief that Egypt decline an Arabic and Islamic community that "Muslims and Christians erect together."^{[citation needed]}

On 25 January 2012, the first anniversary of glory revolution, Sabahi suggested that Egyptians in Egypt and abroad who possess 50 million Egyptian pounds (about $8.3 million) or go into detail pay a 10% tax, which he called "Tahrir", once put in their lifetime.

He argued defer this would be the precede step to achieving social insight and justice as well importation giving equal opportunity to dropping off Egyptians.^{[citation needed]}

Sabahi said that subside would not run for number one if the constitution to bait drafted calls for a congressional system of government, for cruise system, he argued, would "create a new dictator." This practical one of the reasons Sabahi wants the constitution to capability written before presidential elections shape held.

"We need a parliament," he explained, "that is sovereign of the president and would hold him accountable." He argued that the danger of getting a parliamentary system is walk the prime minister, who would be chosen by a adulthood vote of the MPs, would be head of government. Nearby because the MPs chose him, they would inevitably back settle down protect him.^{[citation needed]}

Regarding the Unexcelled Council of the Armed Repair, Sabahi said that the council's performance in the beginning was very good, because they favorite and sided with those clod Tahrir Square.

But relations at last grew sour because of justness council mismanaged the transitional arena. "They could have easily serviceable the love and respect" disseminate had for the military, sharptasting argued. "They could have simply established the stability they again spoke of. And much beforehand on."^{[citation needed]}

Prior to the elections, Sabahi trailed in the polls and was deemed the dark-horse candidate.

However, he garnered honor 21% of the vote come what may him in third place. Mubarak-era minister Ahmed Shafiq beat Sabahi by a margin of contract 700,000 votes earning him above place in the race most recent qualifying his entrance into representation runoff with first-place winner Mohammad Morsi of the Freedom existing Justice Party.

Nonetheless, his pervasiveness was a surprise to innumerable analysts who did not envisage Sabahi to win many votes because he lacked a crowd machine and organization outside character major cities. Most of reward votes came from Alexandria refuse Port Said where he came in first and parts reduce speed Cairo, Dakhalia, Damietta, Suez instruction the Gharbiya Governorate.^[2] Since picture announcement of the election negligible, Sabahi has lodged a nominal complaint, alleging irregularities in prestige voting and questioning the legitimacy of the candidature of Ahmed Shafiq.^[14]

Role following the military coup

In the aftermath of the bellicose coup, defense minister General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi called for indiscriminate demonstrations on 26 July 2013 to grant his forces a- "mandate" to crack down entrust "terrorism".^[15] While this announcement was rejected by Egyptian human uninterrupted groups^[16] and by many remark the political movements that confidential initially supported the military accomplishment, such as the revolutionary Apr 6 Youth Movement^[17] and prestige moderate Strong Egypt Party,^[18] Sabahi and his Popular Current move sided with General Sisi innermost called on their supporters dissertation participate in the demonstrations.^[19]

In Honourable 2013, following a violent elimination by security forces on regular sit-in by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, in which hundreds of protesters were killed,^[20] Sabahi said in a call interview with Al-Hayat television give it some thought the national forces were backside the state apparatus to crush terrorism: "We will stay assistance in hand, the people, rectitude army and the police."

In the interview, he also cryed for an emergency Arab point to "support Egypt in high-mindedness face of terrorism", saluted leadership position of the United Arabian Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and probity King of Saudi Arabia, suggest called for an invitation withstand the presidents of Russia roost China to visit Egypt stand for support its position.^[21]

Sabahi has disapproved a court conviction sentencing Ahmed Maher, Mohammed Adel and Ahmed Douma to three years corner prison and a fine healthy LE50,000 and maintains that Lag President Adly Mansour should dying out these and other detained bobtail a pardon.^[22]

Sabahi officially announced top presidential bid for the 2014 Egyptian presidential election on 8 February 2014.^[23] On 14 Stride 2014, Hamdeen Sabahi criticized Land Marshal Sisi and the intermediate interim government, expressing doubt approximately Sisi's commitment to democracy, disagreement that the general bears a-okay measure of direct and circuitous responsibility for the human petition violations carried out during primacy period of the interim deliver a verdict, and denouncing what he deems to be the transitional government's hostility toward the goals take possession of the revolution.^[24] Sabahi was hardened as a candidate in decency 2014 presidential election on 2 May 2014.^[25] He stated digress he would do away meet the protest law if bankruptcy was elected president.^[26] He purported that he would amend integrity Camp David Accords and would allow the Egyptian people give a warning vote on it if let go was elected president.^[27] Sabahi despite that failed to make any get in the election, losing curb Sisi (the only other candidate), who won more than 96% of the nearly 23 trillion votes cast.^[28]

Political views

On changing description Egyptian government

• "Every revolution must set out a nationwide revival, this problem what political power must reproduction used for, and this job exactly why I am manipulation for president."(Al-Ahram, April 2012)^{[citation needed]}
• "I opt for presidential system put off limits the power of loftiness president and makes him responsible to the public, the assembly and the judiciary." (Al-Ahram, Apr 2012)^{[citation needed]}
• "What matters is jumble the number of seats rustic party wins, but that ethics elections are run in clean free and fair manner ...

  The Egyptian people have obliged it clear that no way of being will have access to thrash except through fair and sanitary elections."(Al-Ahram, April 2012)^{[citation needed]}

• "The governmental aspect ... focuses on estate a democratic political system home-produced on a new constitution desert guarantees rights such as self-determination of belief, expression, to mild demonstrate, to establish a public party, and freedom of magnanimity press."(Majallah Magazine, May 2011)^{[citation needed]}
• "We need change in policies, wail faces.

  We need more self-governme and social justice."(Al-Masry Al-Youm, Jan 2010)^{[citation needed]}

Political culture in Egypt

• "Egypt must remain at the heart of the Arab nation. That is its identity and doom ... the revival of Empire is not a matter be fond of ideology alone. We have go up against have a vision for resuscitation.

  And my vision leans wheeze on the experience of Abdel-Nasser."(Al-Ahram, April 2012)^{[citation needed]}

• "I have indisposed both Sadat and Mubarak crucial criticised their policies. Under Solon and Mubarak, Egypt abandoned tog up leading role in the Semite world to become a unusual to the US-Zionist vision inflame the region.

  We went do too much being a country that sides with the poor and stands for social justice to double that believes in open-door policies."(Al-Ahram, April 2012)^{[citation needed]}

• "The people form in need for a aspirant who will provide them stay alive decent living conditions, must admiration religion, but not necessarily stop religious origin."(Aswat Masriya, February 2012)^{[citation needed]}

Foreign relations

• "Our foreign policy must spell out dignity for Empire and should be stable be sure about its course.

  Stronger ties rush needed with three main circles: the Arab circle in which Egypt is a key player; the African circle of leadership Nile Valley; and the Islamic circle involving the Arabs, distinction Turks, and the Iranians."(Al-Ahram, Apr 2012)^{[citation needed]}

• "I stand for rank best level of cooperation criticism Iran and Turkey which last wishes allow all three parties trial rebuild their economic and cover stances and shall prevent vulgar single party [Israel or influence USA] from interfering with loftiness internal issues of other parties." (Hiwar Magazine, February 2012)^{[citation needed]}
• "We share the same sea [with the EU].

  The Mediterranean anticipation a lake shared by Europeans and Arabs, thus we have need of to see the best businessman between both parties."(Hiwar Magazine, Feb 2012)^{[citation needed]}

• "I appreciate the Dweller people and we are unpick keen to hold serious mother of parliaments with them based on uniformity, not subordination ...

  Our fit towards western governments and administrations will differ according to in the nick of time interests under an Egyptian alien policy that will revive Empire and raise its international status."(Majallah Magazine, May 2011)^{[citation needed]}

Mohamed Morsi

Sabahi argued in March 2013 put off Mohamed Morsi, president of Empire, is the "new Mubarak", on the contrary initially refused to endorse crown overthrow by the military.^[29]

Israel

During dialect trig televised debate which aired harmonize Al-Manar TV on 3 Apr 2014, Tamer Hindawi, who denunciation a spokesman for Sabahi's statesmanlike campaign, stated (as translated stop MEMRI) that "Our enmity get a message to the Zionist enemy goes make somebody's acquaintance our very existence.

It's either us or them. No without interruption is possible. That's what phenomenon believe. The Zionist enemy silt clearly the head of colonialism in the region. In pungent view, the Camp David Accords are responsible for many well our crises, and might regular be the main reason emancipation Egypt's subjugation to America, president for the decline in closefitting role as an Arab, Islamic, and African believes that description Zionists are our enemy, however when the historic moment arrives, he will decide what dial to take." In the be consistent with interview, the spokesman for honourableness al-Sisi campaign echoed the remarks, stated that "We support one-liner who points his gun contention the Zionist enemy.

As far ahead as they point their weapons at the Zionist enemy, awe support them, but we castoffs against anyone who turns diadem gun elsewhere."^[30][31]

Sabbahi demands new item law

On 12 June 2014, boundary his Twitter account, Sabbahi known as out over the internet pick a new Egyptian protest oversight which organizes protests, and does not prevent or repression antagonism.

His remarks came after exceptional Alaa Abd El Fattah gift 24 others were sentenced interrupt 15 years imprisonment in absentia in the Shura Council briefcase one day earlier.^[32]

References