George Isaac | |
|---|---|
جورج إسحق | |
 Isaac in 2011 | |
| Born | George Isaac 1938 (1938) |
| Died | (aged 85) Cairo, Egypt |
| Education | Bachelor's Degree in History |
| Alma mater | Cairo University |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, School teacher, Headmaster |
| Political party |
|
George Isaac (Arabic:جورج إسحق; 1938 – 9 June 2023) was an Egyptian politician and activist. During the later part ofHosni Mubarak's presidency, he co-founded the grassrootsKefaya opposition movement.
Following the2011 Egyptian Revolution that toppled Mubarak, Issac became a member of theConstitution Party and a critic of PresidentMohamed Morsi, elected in 2012. He was a member of theCoptic Catholic Church.[3][4]
Born and raised inPort Said, Isaac graduated fromCairo University with a BA in history and began his career as a history teacher, headmaster and later as a consultant.[5] Politically active at a young age, he joined theFedayeen to oppose theBritish occupation of Egypt and resisted the invasion of Egypt during theSuez Crisis.[6] He was a member of Egypt'sConstitution Party.[2][3]
Isaac was a founding member and first general coordinator of theKefaya opposition group, the movement organised the first protest against Mubarak rule. Isaac was later a member of theNational Association for Change, agrassrootscoalition which prior to the 2011 revolution drew its support from across Egypt’s political spectrum.[7][8][9][10] It was a platform for protest againstHosni Mubarak’s presidency; political corruption, and stagnation; "the blurring of the lines between power and wealth; and human rights."[11][12]
During the2012 Egyptian protests, Isaac urged PresidentMohamed Morsi to withdraw his constitutional declaration.[3] On 8 December, after Morsi sought to address some of the protesters' demands, Isaac said that Morsi’s new declaration "does not answer people’s demands", and the work would continue.[13]
Isaac was a member of theNational Council for Human Rights.[6]
George Isaac died on 9 June 2023, at the age of 85.[14] Samir Elish, the leader of the Civil Democratic Movement, said: "May God have mercy on our brother George Ishak and forgive him and enter him into his spacious heavens. Our heartfelt condolences to all friends and acquaintances for the loss of a patriotic man and comrade of struggle."[6]