Khalid Islambouli
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Khalid Ahmed Showky El-Islambouli (Arabic: خالد أحمد شوقي الإسلامبولي ) arranged and carried out the assassination of the Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat, during the annual "6th October 1973 victory parade" on 6th October, 1981. For his actions, Islambouli is considered by many radicals in the Islamic world to be an inspirational symbol and among the first modern Shahid.[1]
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[edit] Background
Islambouli came from an average family in northern Egypt. After graduating from the Egyptian Military Academy with excellent grades, he was accepted as an officer in the Bombardment Forces of the Egyptian army with the rank of Lieutenant. Sometime after this appointment, Islambouli joined the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.
[edit] The Assassination of Sadat
Lieutenant Islambouli was not supposed to participate in the October parade, but was chosen by chance to replace an officer who was excused for not being able to participate. Once his section of the parade began to approach the President's platform, Islambouli and three other soldiers leapt from their truck and ran towards the stand where the President was standing with other foreign dignitaries, lobbing grenades. Islambouli entered the stands and emptied his assault rifle into Sadat's body, shouting "I have killed the Pharaoh!"[2] Immediately after assassinating the President, he was captured. Lieutenant Islambouli and twenty-three co-conspirators were tried, and he was found guilty. Islambouli and five other co-conspirators were executed on 15th April 1982.
[edit] A Martyr in Iran
The Iranian government, in response to Sadat's recognition of Israel and his provision of asylum to the deposed Shah, cut relations with Egypt and named a street in Tehran after Islambouli in 1981 in honor of his "martyrdom". Iran's public portrayal of Islambouli as a hero and martyr has plagued Egyptian-Iranian diplomatic relations.[3] Despite extensive public protest, in May 2001 the Tehran City Council renamed the street "Intifada street" in an effort to improve these relations.[4][5]
[edit] Relatives
Islambouli's younger brother, Mohamed Ahmed Shawqi El-Islambouli was arrested for having established active connections with religious groups in Assiut. This arrest is thought to be the main event which triggered Islambouli's desire to arrange and carry out the assassination.[citation needed]
[edit] Legacy
As a Shahid (martyr), Khalid Islambouli continues to serve as an inspirational symbol for Islamist movements throughout the world, including terrorist groups. On July 31, 2004 "The al-Islambouli Brigades of al-Qaeda" claimed responsibility for an assassination attempt on Shaukat Aziz, then a candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Pakistan. On August 24, 2004 a Chechen resistance group calling itself "The al-Islambouli Brigades" issued a statement claiming responsibility for the bombing of two Russian passenger aircraft.[1][6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Islambouli Enigma, The Jamestown Foundation
- ^ Thesis, Paul Gallaher, Center for Contemporary Conflict, United States Navy
- ^ Egypt wooed with new street name, BBC, 5 January 2004
- ^ Diplomatic Iran renames street at Egypt's request, The Scotsman, 7 January 2004
- ^ Article on the renaming of Islambouli Street in Tehran, Payvand, quoting IRNA
- ^ Statement from the Chechen "Al-Islambouli Brigades", Global Terror Alert
- For more details on this topic, see Anwar Sadat.
- For more details on this topic, see Iran-Arab relations.
