Shudi Atiya ash-Shafi
Encyclopedia
Shudi Atiya ash-Shafi was an Egypt
ian communist theoretician and activist. Ash-Shafi studied in Britain
, and returned to Egypt in 1942 with a Master of Arts
degree from Exeter College
. After his return to Egypt he was employed at the Ministry of Education
as an English-language supervisor. He joined the communist Iskra
group, of which he became a prominent member. He went on to become director of the House of Scientific Research (a Marxist
study centre set up by Iskra) for a period. In 1947 he became editor of the newspaper of the group, al-Jamahir. In the same year Iskra merged into the Democratic Movement for National Liberation
(HADITU).
As HADITU passed through inner-party conflicts, ash-Shafi resigned from the movement towards the end of 1947. After leaving HADITU, ash-Shafi became an active advocate for greater unity in the Egyptian communist movement.
Ash-Shafi was arrested in a crackdown on leftist intellectuals, which had begun in January 1959. In 1960 he was beaten to death in the Abu Zabal
prison camp.
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 communist theoretician and activist. Ash-Shafi studied in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and returned to Egypt in 1942 with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from Exeter College
Exeter College
Exeter College may refer to:* Exeter College, Oxford a college of Oxford University* Exeter College, Exeter a college in Exeter, Devon...
. After his return to Egypt he was employed at the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Egypt)
The Ministry of Education of Egypt is a ministry responsible for education in Egypt. The current minister is Dr. Ahmed Gamal El-Din Moussa....
as an English-language supervisor. He joined the communist Iskra
Iskra (Egyptian communist organisation)
Iskra was a communist organization in Egypt. Iskra was founded in 1942 by Hillel Schwartz. In the initial phase of its existence, the membership of Iskra was a few tens....
group, of which he became a prominent member. He went on to become director of the House of Scientific Research (a Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
study centre set up by Iskra) for a period. In 1947 he became editor of the newspaper of the group, al-Jamahir. In the same year Iskra merged into the Democratic Movement for National Liberation
Democratic Movement for National Liberation
The Democratic Movement for National Liberation was a communist organization in Egypt 1947-1955. HADITU was led by Henri Curiel. The movement followed a line of National Democratic Revolution....
(HADITU).
As HADITU passed through inner-party conflicts, ash-Shafi resigned from the movement towards the end of 1947. After leaving HADITU, ash-Shafi became an active advocate for greater unity in the Egyptian communist movement.
Ash-Shafi was arrested in a crackdown on leftist intellectuals, which had begun in January 1959. In 1960 he was beaten to death in the Abu Zabal
Abu Zabal
- 1970 bombing incident :In early 1970, the Israeli air force accidentally bombed an industrial plant in Abu Zabal, killing 80 workers....
prison camp.