The 60th anniversary of the 23 July coup in Egypt is here, as we debate whether we should celebrate it or not or we should cancel it or not, I think we should remember the first president of Egypt General Mohamed Naguib.
Here is General Mohamed Naguib’s first statement in July 1952 on video in Arabic
"From British Pathe"
Now, for the first time, I have found what is believed to be the first and only video interview of Naguib recorded by an Egyptian TV host in 1984.
The interview was conducted by Shafe'e Shalaby, a former Egyptian state TV host who is known to be a nationalist.
In the short clip, the former president spoke about the execution of workers Khamis and Bakry, who led the strike of Misr Textile in Kar El-Dawwar in 1952, and his meeting at his office with two poor workers.
Unfortunately, Naguib cried in the end, screaming "Pain, pain, pain."
He had had too many years to rethink what he did. Mohamed Naguib passed on 28 August 1984 reportedly days after recording that interview.
I wish Shalaby would release the whole interview without all the watermarks.
The execution of Khamis and Bakry was supported and approved by the Muslim Brotherhood, including Sayyid Qutb himself.
The SCAF members should read Naguib's memoirs very carefully and understand their mistakes, especially Tantawy.
Despite not being elected, people should know that Mohamed Naguib was the first president of the Egyptian Republic.
I hope that we will be able to achieve what Mohamed Naguib wanted to do but failed to do.
By the way, it would have been a strong message if the first elected president had paid a visit to the forgotten tomb of the first president of the Egyptian Republic.
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| Mohamed Naguib |
Do You possibly know if his book "I was a President of Egypt' was ever published in English?
ReplyDeleteGreat article. interesting.
Yes. I have a first edition of it.
ReplyDeleteIn English, its title was 'Egypt's Destiny: A Personal Statement by Mohammed Naguib'. Superb book.
A nationalist, a hero, and the father of the Republic. May God bless him.
From Naguib to Morsy...All in between was a curse....
ReplyDeletePoor Naguib was used by Nasser and his 'Free Officers' as a front to achieve their claim to power, after-which Nasser eliminated most of the free officers who helped him undertake the July 23 coup (Sadat missed out on the coup as he was at the movies). Sadat survived Nasser because he was not seen as a threat, but he gave us a thief after he died.
DeleteNasser not only betrayed the REvolution, he destroyed the Egyptian Army. He killed or imprisoned all the senior experienced Army officers in the name of Nationalism. He sent 30,000 troops to Yemen in 1967 when they were needed in the Sinai. He was a loser, a tyrant, burning in hell.
DeleteIan and Anonymous, you are talking about two different books.
ReplyDeleteNaguib's autobiography "I Was a President of Egypt" was published in 1984, and translated into English as "The Fate of Egypt." At least according to Wikipedia. Good luck finding a copy.
Naguib was the rarest chance Egypt had for a bright future. While under the royalty, he resigned following the disadter of 1949, and the king turned it down. He loudely announced that the army has to go back to their bases and democratic system replace them. of course this didn't please the corrupt officers bunch. He was educated, spoke several languages. Egypt had him in dream period. God bless his sole.
ReplyDeleteEverything about Naguib was good, except that he did not have the spirit of Islam in him.
ReplyDeleteEgyptians are the people of Amro bin Aas, Egypt will have to be ruled by the tenets of the Sahaba.
A leader who fears Allah and the afterlife is what a Muslim country needs, Egypt is a Muslim country.
May Allah grant long life and wisdom to Amir al Mo'mineen Mohammed Morsy el Ayat.
Are Muslims doing any good deed out of fear of Allah? The afterlife? or out of love of Allah and hope they are rewardwed with his blessings in afterlife!!????
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