Hassan Abu Basha
Hassan Abu Basha (2 December 1922 – 18 September 2005) was a major general[1] and one of the former interior ministers of Egypt who was in office for two years from January 1982 to July 1984.
Hassan Abu Basha | |
---|---|
Minister of Interior | |
In office January 1982 – July 1984 | |
Preceded by | Nabawi Ismail |
Succeeded by | Ahmed Rushdi |
Personal details | |
Born | 2 December 1922 Cairo, Egypt |
Died | 18 September 2005 82) Cairo, Egypt | (aged
Nationality | Egyptian |
Military service | |
Rank | Major General |
Early life and education
Basha was born in Cairo on 2 December 1922.[2] He graduated from police academy in 1945.[3]
Career
Basha was a leading figure during the Nasser era.[4] He served as deputy interior minister when Nabawi Ismail was in office under President Anwar Sadat.[5] As assistant minister, he organized operations against fundamentalists and arrested them at the end of the 1970s.[6] He also carried out such operations following the assassination of Anwar Sadat in October 1981.[7]
Basha was appointed interior minister in January 1982 by President Hosni Mobarak, replacing Nabawi Ismail in the post.[8][9] Basha preferred dialogue instead of coercion to deal with social and political problems.[4] His attitude towards the Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, had positive consequences.[4] Basha's term lasted until July 1984, and he was replaced by Ahmed Rushdi as interior minister.[4] Basha's removal was unexpected, since he was considered to be one of the significant figures in the regime of Mobarak.[10] Basha was appointed minister of local government in July 1984.[10]
Assassination attempt
On 5 May 1987, Basha survived an assassination attempt perpetrated by the Islamist militants, including Ayman Zawahiri's brother Hussein Zawahiri.[11] The attack was organized near Basha's home in Cairo,[12] and unknown gunmen seriously injured Basha.[13] Basha underwent surgery following the attack.[14]
The terrorist group Salvation from Hell claimed the responsibility of the attack.[12] Some members of the group were arrested in August 1987.[13] The group also attempted to kill former interior minister Nabawi Ismail and an Egyptian journalist after the attack.[1][13]
Upon this event, Egypt broke all diplomatic ties with Iran, claiming that the group which perpetrated the attack was financially supported by Iran.[15] Hussein Zawahiri was convicted for his alleged role in the assassination attempt.[11] Yasser Al Borhamy was also detained for a month due to his alleged connection with the assassination attempt against Basha.[16]
Books
Basha published his memoirs in a book entitled Mudhukrat Hasan Abu Basha (Memoirs of Hasan Abu Basha in English) in 1990.[4]
Death
Basha died at the age of 82 in Cairo on 18 September 2005.[3]
Awards
Basha was the recipient of the Republic second class medal in 1973 and the second class merit medal in 1979.[3]
References
- Ben Dobbin (10 May 1989). "Mubarak Government Tortures, Abuses Opponents: Amnesty Group". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- "Basha, Hassan Abu". Rulers. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "Egypt's Former Interior Minister dies". Bahrain News Agency. Cairo. 19 September 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- Hesham Al-Awadi (15 January 2005). In Pursuit of Legitimacy: The Muslim Brothers and Mubarak, 1982-2000. I.B.Tauris. p. 233. ISBN 978-1-85043-632-4. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- Hassanein, Omar (16 June 2009). "Most Controversial Interior Minister Nabawi Ismail Passes Away". Almasry Alyoum. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- Anthony McDermott (23 November 2012). Egypt from Nasser to Mubarak: A Flawed Revolution. Routledge. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-415-81116-3. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- Kifner, John (12 July 1987). "Islamic Fundamentalism Gains in Egypt". The New York Times. p. 1.
- Moussa, Ahmed (11–17 October 2001). "Uprooting terrorism". Al Ahram Weekly. 555. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- "The Premier-Designate Names Egyptian Cabinet". The New York Times. Cairo. UPI. 4 January 1982. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- "The Opening to the Arabs Characterizes the New Egyptian Cabinet's Policy". Al Mustaqbal. 21 July 1984. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- Moussa, Ahmed (18–24 October 2001). "Egypt's most wanted". Al Ahram Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- N Tal (2005). Radical Islam: In Egypt and Jordan. Sussex Academic Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-84519-098-9. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- Sid-Ahmed, Mohamed (Winter 1987–1988). "Egypt: The Islamic Issue". Foreign Policy. 69: 22–39. doi:10.2307/1148586. JSTOR 1148586.
- "The World". Los Angeles Times. 7 May 1987. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- Kifner (15 May 1987). "Egypt Breaks All Diplomatic Ties With Iran". The New York Times. p. 7. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- "Yasser Borhami". Ahram Online. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Nabawi Ismail |
Minister of Interior 1982 – 1984 |
Succeeded by Ahmed Rushdi |