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Top 10 Facts about Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser served as an Egyptian army officer and prime minister from 1954 to 1956. He is remembered as a controversial leader of the Arab world. Between 1958 and 1961, Nasser created the briefly existing United Arab Republic. During this time, Nasser also served as the Egyptian president from 1956 to 1970.
Nasser, who was born on January 15, 1918, in Alexandria, Egypt and died in Cairo on September 28, 1970, is remembered as an iconic figure. The Arab world recognizes Nasser for his attempt to unite the Arab nations and for his strides towards social justice. He is also remembered for his anti-imperialist work and modernization policies. During Nasser’s presidency, there was an increase in industrialization. He was however criticized for human rights violations and authoritarianism. This dictatorial rule pattern continues to persist even today.
Below are ten interesting facts about Gamal Abdel Nasser.
1. He led a protest against British Rule in Egypt
King Farouk of Egypt. Photo by pinterest.com / Wikimedia Commons
Nasser’s father was transferred to Cairo in 1933. This allowed Nasser to attend the al-Nahda al-Masria school. While there Nasser wrote an article on the French philosopher Voltaire titled Voltaire, the Man of Freedom. He also took part in the school plays.
Nasser headed a student demonstration on 13th November 1935. The students were demonstrating against British rule. The main issue was a statement made four days earlier. The statement had been made by Samuel Hoare, the UK Foreign Minister. Hoare’s statement prohibited the restoration of the 1923 Constitution.
During the protest, two protesters were killed and a policeman’s bullet grazed Nasser’s head. The demonstration earned Nasser his first press mention. Al Gihad, the national newspaper stated that Nasser led the protests and was among the wounded. The constitution was restored by King Farouk on 12th December.
2. His political opponents were banned from running in the election which earned him his second term as president
Gamal Abdel Nasser takes the presidential oath for his third term as president. Photo by Al-Ahram Weekly / Wikimedia Commons
In March 1965, Nasser began his second term as president. This was after his political opponents had been barred from running. In 1967, Nasser resigned after Egypt suffered a defeat against Israel in the Six-Day War.
Popular demonstrations, however, called for his reinstatement and he returned to office. He appointed himself Prime Minister in 1968. To reclaim the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula, he initiated the War of Attrition. He also issued reforms addressing political liberalization and began depoliticizing the military.
3. His family initially kept from him the news of his mother’s death
Due to the nature of his father’s work, Nasser’s family travelled a lot. His father ran a post office and they moved to Asyut and Khatatba in 1921 and 1923 respectively. Until 1942, he attended the primary school for children of railway employees.
He later attended Nahhasin elementary school when he was sent to Cairo to live with his paternal uncle. He often wrote to his mother and visited during the school holidays. In April 1926, he stopped receiving letters from her.
Upon his return to Khatatba, he learnt of her death. She died giving birth to Shawki, his third brother. His family did not inform him of his mother’s death. He is said to have stated that losing her that way was a shock so deep that time failed to remedy it. His father remarried before the year’s end and this deepened the injury of her death.
4. He attended only 45 days of school in his last year of high school
A 1931 image of young Gamal Abdel Nasser at the boarding school of Helwan, Egypt. Photo by Bibliotheca Alexandrina / Wikimedia Commons
During his school years, Nasser was greatly involved in political activity. Due to this involvement, he attended only 45 days of classes in his last year of high school.
Nasser strongly disagreed with the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936. He objected that the treaty indicated that British military bases would still be in the country. Egypt’s political powers, however, strongly supported the treaty.
Thereafter, the unrest in Egypt was greatly reduced. That year, Nasser resumed his studies al-Nahda and went on to receive his school leaving certificate.
5. His initial application to the Royal Military Academy was denied
Portrait of Nasser while he was at the Cairo University, Faculty of Law. Photo by Bibliotheca Alexandrina / Wikimedia Commons
Nasser applied to the Royal Military Academy in 1937. He wanted to join the army officer training institution but his record of anti-government protests denied him entry.
He later applied to the King Fuad University law school and was accepted. After one semester, he quit and reapplied to the Military Academy. Nasser was certain he needed an influential personality to help him get into the institution.
With this in mind, Nasser requested Ibrahim Khairy Pasha the Under-Secretary of War to assist him. Pasha agreed and late in 1937, Nasser’s second application was accepted.
6. There was an assassination attempt on his life
President Gamal Abdel Nasser (right) with Anwar Sadat (left) at the National Assembly. Photo by Bibliotheca Alexandrina / Wikimedia Commons
The Muslim Brotherhood member known as Mahmoud Abdel-Latif tried to assassinate Nasser on 26 October 1954. Nasser was in Alexandria delivering a speech to the Arab world. The speech which was celebrating the withdrawal of the British Military was delivered by radio.
Standing at 7.6 metres (25 feet) from Nasser, the gunman fired eight times. Each of the eight bullets missed Nasser and there was panic in the audience. Nasser remained calm and made a speech that electrified the crown and received approval from the Arab crowd.
Nasser stated, ‘My countrymen, my blood spills for you and Egypt. I will live for your sake and die for the sake of your freedom and honour. Let them kill me; it does not concern me so long as I have instilled pride, honour, and freedom in you. If Gamal Abdel Nasser should die, each of you shall be Gamal Abdel Nasser. Gamal Abdel Nasser is of you and from you and he is willing to sacrifice his life for the nation.’
7. Despite his popularity in the Arab region, Syria was his only regional ally was Syria
By mid-1957, Nasser was very popular in the Arab region. Syria however, was his only regional ally despite his popularity. There were rumours that the Baghdad Pact countries wanted to topple the Syrian leftist government. By September, there were Turkish troops at the Syrian border which made the rumour more believable.
To show his solidarity, Nasser sent a contingent force to Syria. This increased his popularity in the Arab world and especially with the Syrians. The instability grew in Syria and representatives were sent to Egypt to demand the unification of the two countries.
Nasser turned down their request. He stated that among other reasons, the two countries had incompatible economic and political reasons. A second delegation was sent in January 1958. They convinced Nasser that there would be civil strife if there was a communist takeover.
Nasser agreed to the union on the condition that he would be president. Shukri al-Quwatli, Syria’s president, as well as the delegates, agreed to the terms. The United Arab Republic (UAR) was announced on 1st February.
Initially, the Arab world was amazed but the reaction later turned into wild euphoria. As a result, many Syrian communists were dismissed from their government posts.
8. Nationalization of the Suez Canal was considered an act of hostility by European Countries
Gamal Nasser giving a speech at the opening of the Suez canal in 1955. Photo by Zdravko Pečar / Wikimedia Commons
The largest shareholders of the Suez Canal Company were the UK and France. The nationalization of the canal was perceived as an act of hostility by the two nations. Even though the UK was to initiate military action, Nasser believed it would be an 80 per cent chance and would take place in about two months.
In October of the same year, the UN council met and agreed that Egypt had the right to control the canal as long as they allowed the safe passage of foreign ships. Thereafter, Israel, France and the UK made a secret agreement to topple Nasser and take over the Suez Canal.
9. He is said to have stated that the Yemen intervention was a miscalculation
On 27th September 1962, Abdullah al-Sallal who was Nasser’s supporter overthrew Imam Badr of North Yemen. This unexpectedly changed Nasser’s regional position. To regain Yemen, Al-Badr began receiving support from Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, on 30th September, Nasser accepted Sallal’s request militarily support the new government. In March 1966, Egypt was involved in the civil war and deployed 60,000 Egyptian soldiers to Yemen. To make up for losses suffered during the Six-Day War, in August 1967, Nasser recalled 15,000 soldiers from North Yemen.
During the 1967 Arab League Summit, as part of the Khartoum Resolution, Egypt announced their readiness to withdraw all soldiers from North Yemen. They did this by end of 1967.
The intervention led to the death of 26,000 soldiers. Amer reassured Nasser of their impending victory, while most of Nasser’s old colleagues questioned why it was necessary to go on with the war. In 1968, Nasser is said to have stated that the Yemen intervention was a miscalculation.
10. There were at least five million mourners at Nasser’s Funeral Procession in Cairo
Gamel Nasser’s burial site in Cairo. Photo by Nableezy / Wikimedia Commons
The Arab League summit closed on 28th September 1970. Nasser suffered a heart attack hours after seeing off the last Arab leader. Despite efforts by his physicians, Nasser died at about 6 pm. He was 52 years old.
His doctors said that the likely cause of death was complications from long-standing diabetes and arteriosclerosis, varicose veins. At the time of his death, Sadat, Heikal, as well as Tahia, Nasser’s wife, were at his deathbed.
Nasser’s family had a history of heart disease and two of his brothers had died from the same condition. His brothers both died in their fifties. Although his medical condition was not known to the public, in 1966 and September 1969, Nasser suffered heart attacks.
Nasser’s death left most Arabs in a state of shock. His funeral took place in Cairo on 1st October. There were at least five million mourners at the procession.
