Cairo (International Desk):
On October 6, 1981, Egypt witnessed one of the darkest moments in its modern history when President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by his own army officers during a military parade in Cairo.
The event marked the eighth anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, a day Sadat considered a symbol of Egypt’s victory over Israel. Ironically, the celebration of that victory became the moment of his death.
Two years before his assassination, Sadat had signed a historic peace treaty with Israel, becoming the first Arab leader to make peace with the Jewish state. The bold decision earned him global recognition — but also sparked anger and outrage across the Arab world, leading to violent protests and resentment among Egyptians and fellow Arabs alike.
Born on December 25, 1918, in the village of Mīt Abū al-Kawm on the banks of the Nile in Monufia Governorate, Mohamed Anwar el-Sadat rose from humble beginnings to become Egypt’s third president. His legacy remains deeply divided — a visionary peacemaker to some, and a traitor to the Arab cause to others.
Ultimately, it was this very pursuit of peace that cost him his life.
