Ahmad Fathi Sorour
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Fathi Sorour is an Egypt
ian former politician who was the speaker of the People's Assembly
since 1990, until the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. According to Article 84 of the Egyptian Constitution
, Sorour, as speaker of the People's Assembly, was first in the order of succession
to become President of Egypt
if the president dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns. Upon the resignation of Hosni Mubarak
in 2011, however, the military, headed by Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, assumed control of the state.
Dr. Sorour was first elected to the People's Assembly in April 1989 was elected Speaker in November 1990. He was President of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1994–1997 and also served as President of the Union of African Parliaments in 1990–1991.
(Bachelor of Law and later Doctor of Law) and at University of Michigan
, USA (Master of Comparative Law), Sorour started his professional life as Assistant Attorney General (1953–1959). He was a lawyer at the Court of Appeal (1976). He has been Professor of the Faculty of Law at Cairo University since 1959, and was Dean of the Faculty (1983–85). He was Vice President of the University (1985–1986) and President of the Higher Council of Universities in Egypt (1987–1990).
Sorour was Minister of Education (1986–1990) and is a Member of the Political Bureau of the National Democratic Party
. He also spent some years in the Egyptian diplomatic service, serving as Cultural Attaché at the Embassy in Switzerland (1964), Cultural Adviser at the Embassy in Paris (1965–1970), and Permanent Delegate of the League of Arab States to UNESCO (1972–1978).
He was a Member of the Governing Board of the Graduate Institute for Criminal Science in Italy (1985–1993), Vice-Chairman of the International Council on Education, Geneva (1987–1989), Vice-President and Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO (1989–1993), Vice-Chairman of the International Association of Penal Law, Paris (since 1989), and President of the Egypt-Russia Friendship Association (since 1992).
Among his awards are the Sciences and Arts Medal, first class, in 1964 and 1983, and the State Appreciation Award in Social Sciences in 1993. He was decorated as "Grand Officer" of the Pleiade by the International Assembly of French-speaking Parliamentarians in 1993.
Sorour has directed over 30 doctoral theses in law and published many works on individual freedoms, criminal law and education, including a book on "Constitutional Legality and Human Rights".
in Egypt (January 25, 2011- February 11, 2011) the Supreme Military Council, led by Field Marshal
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, was appointed to the position of Acting President. The Supreme Military Council dissolved the Egyptian Parliament which was headed by Sorour. This came following widespread allegations that the elections leading to this parliament, headed by Sorour, were rigged . On February 14 2011 the Egyptian daily news Alwafd reported that the ruling military authorities opted to prosecute a senior member of Sorour's team for allegedly burning confidential documents in Srour's office. The same newspaper reported that a restraining order was issued preventing Sorour from entering the parliament building following allegations of smuggling undisclosed documents from the building. . Sorour is seen among the figures that caused the fall of Mubarak's rule. Some see that Mubarak's mistake was that he has increasingly given too much latitude to his son's cabal, including Ahmad Fathi Sorour, among others .
In light of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution
, Sorour was jailed for 15 days pending investigations regarding embezzlement of public funds and illicit wealth, corruption and fraud in the most recent parliamentary elections in April 2011.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian former politician who was the speaker of the People's Assembly
People's Assembly of Egypt
The People's Assembly is the lower house of Egypt's bicameral parliament. In spite of its lower status, however, it plays a more important role in drafting legislation and day-to-day legislative duties than the Shura Council, the upper house....
since 1990, until the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. According to Article 84 of the Egyptian Constitution
Constitution of Egypt
The Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt was the fundamental law of Egypt. It was adopted on September 11, 1971 through a public referendum. It was later amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007. It was proclaimed to update the democratic representative system in assertion of the rule of law,...
, Sorour, as speaker of the People's Assembly, was first in the order of succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
to become President of Egypt
President of Egypt
The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is the head of state of Egypt.Under the Constitution of Egypt, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Egyptian government....
if the president dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns. Upon the resignation of Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
in 2011, however, the military, headed by Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, assumed control of the state.
Dr. Sorour was first elected to the People's Assembly in April 1989 was elected Speaker in November 1990. He was President of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1994–1997 and also served as President of the Union of African Parliaments in 1990–1991.
Academic and Political Career
Following his studies at Cairo UniversityCairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
(Bachelor of Law and later Doctor of Law) and at University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, USA (Master of Comparative Law), Sorour started his professional life as Assistant Attorney General (1953–1959). He was a lawyer at the Court of Appeal (1976). He has been Professor of the Faculty of Law at Cairo University since 1959, and was Dean of the Faculty (1983–85). He was Vice President of the University (1985–1986) and President of the Higher Council of Universities in Egypt (1987–1990).
Sorour was Minister of Education (1986–1990) and is a Member of the Political Bureau of the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Egypt)
The National Democratic Party , often simply called Al-Ḥizb al-Waṭaniy – the "National Party", was an Egyptian political party. It was founded by President Anwar El Sadat in 1978....
. He also spent some years in the Egyptian diplomatic service, serving as Cultural Attaché at the Embassy in Switzerland (1964), Cultural Adviser at the Embassy in Paris (1965–1970), and Permanent Delegate of the League of Arab States to UNESCO (1972–1978).
He was a Member of the Governing Board of the Graduate Institute for Criminal Science in Italy (1985–1993), Vice-Chairman of the International Council on Education, Geneva (1987–1989), Vice-President and Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO (1989–1993), Vice-Chairman of the International Association of Penal Law, Paris (since 1989), and President of the Egypt-Russia Friendship Association (since 1992).
Among his awards are the Sciences and Arts Medal, first class, in 1964 and 1983, and the State Appreciation Award in Social Sciences in 1993. He was decorated as "Grand Officer" of the Pleiade by the International Assembly of French-speaking Parliamentarians in 1993.
Sorour has directed over 30 doctoral theses in law and published many works on individual freedoms, criminal law and education, including a book on "Constitutional Legality and Human Rights".
Allegations of Non-compliance with the Judiciary
Sorour was widely criticized for article 93 of the Egyptian Constituation "The parliament is the master of its decisions", meaning that the parliament could make its decision about membership regardless to any judicial decisions. This article caused significant concerns amidst allegations that the Egyptian parliamentary elections were repeatedly systematically rigged. Sorour continued to assert that the parliament is the competent authority to decide as to the validity of its memberships despite the widely acknowledged allegations of rigging . Following the Egyptian revolution of 2011 Sorour's parliament was dissolved and article 93 was referred for revision.Involvement in the Rigging of Parliamentary Elections
In the aftermath of the revolution2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
in Egypt (January 25, 2011- February 11, 2011) the Supreme Military Council, led by Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, was appointed to the position of Acting President. The Supreme Military Council dissolved the Egyptian Parliament which was headed by Sorour. This came following widespread allegations that the elections leading to this parliament, headed by Sorour, were rigged . On February 14 2011 the Egyptian daily news Alwafd reported that the ruling military authorities opted to prosecute a senior member of Sorour's team for allegedly burning confidential documents in Srour's office. The same newspaper reported that a restraining order was issued preventing Sorour from entering the parliament building following allegations of smuggling undisclosed documents from the building. . Sorour is seen among the figures that caused the fall of Mubarak's rule. Some see that Mubarak's mistake was that he has increasingly given too much latitude to his son's cabal, including Ahmad Fathi Sorour, among others .
View Against Pro-democracy Demonstrations
Fathi Sorour openly supported measures taken to crack down on the pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt. In a televised interview with Elmehwar TV Sorour was asked for an opinion on the US disapproval of the Egyptian authorities' action: disconnecting internet services in an attempt to halt the demonstrations. Sorour replied that the US "did more than that when it was subjected to terrorism", portraying some similarity between pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt and the terrorists who attacked the United States. Sorour subsequently stated that he didn't view the pro-democracy demonstrators as terrorists.Allegations of Corruption
A report published by the Egyptian daily news Alwafd listed a number of incidents in which Sorour allegedly influenced the process of appointing unqualified individual to senior official posts on grounds of favoritism .In light of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution
2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
, Sorour was jailed for 15 days pending investigations regarding embezzlement of public funds and illicit wealth, corruption and fraud in the most recent parliamentary elections in April 2011.
External links
- Profile at the Egyptian People's Assembly
- Profile at the Egypt State Information Service
- Profile at the Interparliamentary Union
- Ahmed Fathi Sorour collected news and commentary at IkhwanwebMuslim BrotherhoodThe Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
- Contemporary Africa Database