Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt in 1981 – 2011, died this morning, Tuesday 25 February 2020, while in intensive care in hospital.
The funeral will be held tomorrow Wednesday 26 February at the Mushir Tantawi mosque on the eastern outskirts of Cairo.
Egypt’s Presidency has declared three days of mourning for the former President.
It furthermore mourned him in a statement that said: “The Presidency of the Republic deeply mourns former President Muhammad Hosny Mubarak for serving his nation as a leader and hero of the October 1973 War which regained for the Arab nation its dignity and pride.” The statement offered the Presidency’s condolences to Mubarak’s family.
Egypt’s Armed Forces also issued a statement mourning the former President as “one of its sons and a leader of the glorious October 193 War”. The statement offered condolences to Mubarak’s family, and the officers and members of the of the Armed Forces, concluding with a prayer for his soul.
Mubarak served as Egypt’s president from October 1981 until he stepped down in February 2011 following the 18-day uprising, termed as Egypt’s Arab Spring, which started on 25 January 2011.
His 30-year rule was one of peace and economic prosperity, but was criticised for human rights breaches.
Once out of office, Mubarak stood trial for a number of charges that ranged from corruption to killing protestors during the February 2011 uprising. He was acquitted of all charges, however, except one which involved misappropriation of public funds.
Mubarak leaves behind his wife Suzanne, two businessmen sons: Alaa, 59; and Gamal, 56; and three grandchildren.
On Egyptian social media, many young Egyptians have posted opinions of Mubarak as the origin of problems battering Egypt today. The majority of comments by young and old, however, have widely mourned him as a national hero who respectfully stepped out of office rather than let his country contract civil war.
Watani International
25 February 2020