Adly Abadir, the prominent Coptic activist and one of the principals of the Coptic communities outside Egypt, passed away in the last hours of 2009 after a long struggle with illness.
Mr Abadir was born into one of the Coptic land-owner families in Deir Mawwas in Minya, Upper Egypt. He earned a degree in Engineering from Cairo University, and went on to found Nacita Company for rubber products in Cairo. In the mid-1960s Mr Abadir left for Zurich where he established a thriving trade business between Egypt and Switzerland. He was resident with his family in Zurich ever since.
Mr Abadir left Egypt physically but his heart always remained there. He became active in defending the Coptic cause, especially as persecution against them mounted in the last three decades. Single-handedly, he organised several conferences in Zurich and in Washington D.C to discuss their plight and call for an end to their suffering, as well as to support other minorities in the Middle East. He joined other Coptic activists outside Egypt to further the cause of Copts at home.
In 2004, Mr Abadir launched the website www.copts-united.com which presents all that pertains to Egypt and Copts in both the Arabic and English languages. The motto which proudly graces the site is the famous quote by Pope Shenouda III “Egypt is not a homeland we live in, but a homeland that lives in our hearts”.
Mr Abadir leaves behind his widow and two daughters who live in Zurich.
Watani bids Mr Abadir a final farewell, recalling that he was among the first who supported Antoun Sidhom when the paper was founded in 1958. He remained a staunch friend of Watani and the Sidhoms to the very end.
Mr Abadir will always be remembered for his ardent love for Egypt and it Copts. Those who knew him will never forget his warm heated kindness, his willingness to lend a hand whenever needed, and his ringing laughter, wit, and sense of humour.
May he rest in peace.