Births on January 15

Khalid Islambouli, Egyptian lieutenant (d. 1982)

Khalid Ahmed Showky El Islambouli, whose full name in Arabic is خالد أحمد شوقي الإسلامبولي (with an Egyptian Arabic pronunciation of [ˈxæːled ˈæħmæd ˈʃæwʔi (e)lʔeslæmˈbuːli]), was born on 15 January 1955. As an Egyptian army officer, he rose to prominence for his pivotal role in planning and executing the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. This highly consequential event occurred during the annual 6th October victory parade on 6 October 1981, a national celebration commemorating Egypt's crossing of the Suez Canal in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

The assassination plot was meticulously devised. On that fateful day, a military parade was underway in Nasr City, Cairo, to mark the eighth anniversary of the Suez Canal crossing. Islambouli, leading a commando unit of four, was part of a truck-borne artillery piece that suddenly veered off course. The soldiers dismounted, throwing stun grenades and opening fire on the reviewing stand where President Sadat and other dignitaries were seated. The attack was swift and brutal, claiming Sadat's life and injuring several others.

Islambouli explicitly stated that his primary motivations for orchestrating and participating in this assassination were deeply rooted in his opposition to two key aspects of Sadat's presidency: the signing of the Camp David Accords with Israel and Sadat's broader vision for a more "progressive Egypt."

Understanding the Motivations Behind the Assassination

The Camp David Accords

Signed on 17 September 1978, at Camp David in the United States, these accords led to the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty in 1979. While widely hailed internationally as a significant diplomatic breakthrough, particularly by the US, the accords were highly controversial within the Arab world. Many Arab nations viewed Sadat's decision to make peace with Israel as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and a deviation from Arab solidarity against Israel. Egypt was consequently suspended from the Arab League, and Sadat was ostracized by many former allies. For Islambouli and his associates, this peace treaty was seen as a profound capitulation to an enemy and a grave abandonment of Islamic and Arab principles.

Sadat's Vision for a "Progressive Egypt"

This encompassed a range of policies that fundamentalist elements found deeply objectionable. Sadat's economic liberalization policies, often referred to as "Infitah" (opening), led to increased Western influence and wealth disparities, which some perceived as un-Islamic. Furthermore, his efforts to suppress Islamist opposition groups, which had initially been given more leeway under his predecessor, Gamal Abdel Nasser, were met with fierce resistance. Sadat's secularizing tendencies, his alignment with Western powers, and his perceived moral laxity were all factors that fueled the resentment of radical Islamist groups, including the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, to which Islambouli was reportedly connected.

Following the assassination, Khalid Islambouli was swiftly apprehended. He was subsequently tried before an Egyptian court-martial, a military tribunal designed to handle cases of high national security. Found guilty of his grave charges, he was sentenced to death by firing squad. His execution took place on 15 April 1982.

Islambouli's Enduring Legacy

In the aftermath of his execution, Khalid Islambouli was not universally condemned. Instead, he was declared a "martyr" (shahid) by many radical elements within the Islamic world. This designation, common in certain interpretations of Islam for those who die fighting for their faith, elevated his status. As one of the first figures to challenge a mainstream Arab leader through such a direct and violent act in the modern era, Islambouli rapidly became an inspirational symbol for emerging radical Islamic movements. His actions and subsequent 'martyrdom' were cited as justification and motivation for further acts of political violence, particularly against regimes perceived as secular or pro-Western. His legacy, therefore, is complex and contentious, viewed by some as a criminal act of terrorism and by others as a principled stand against perceived apostasy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Khalid Islambouli

Who was Khalid Islambouli?

Khalid Islambouli was an Egyptian army officer primarily known for his leading role in the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981.

Why was President Anwar Sadat assassinated?

According to Islambouli's stated motivations, Sadat was assassinated due to his signing of the Camp David Accords with Israel and his policies aimed at creating a more "progressive" Egypt, which were seen as anti-Islamic or a betrayal by radical elements.

What were the Camp David Accords?

The Camp David Accords were a series of agreements signed in 1978 that led to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, brokered by the United States. While internationally celebrated, they were highly controversial in the Arab world and seen by many as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

What was Khalid Islambouli's fate after the assassination?

Khalid Islambouli was tried by an Egyptian court-martial, found guilty, and sentenced to death. He was executed by firing squad on 15 April 1982.

How is Khalid Islambouli viewed by some radical Islamic movements?

Following his execution, many radicals in the Islamic world declared him a "martyr" and he became an inspirational symbol for radical Islamic movements, seen as one of the first "modern martyrs of Islam" for his actions against a secular-leaning leader.