Jehan Sadat (Arabic: جيهان السادات, romanized: Jīhān as-Sādāt; née Safwat Raouf; 29 August 1933 - 9 July 2021) was an Egyptian human rights activist and the First Lady of Egypt, as the wife of Anwar Sadat, from 1970 until her husband's assassination in 1981.
Jehan Sadat on Israel and Women
Early Life and Marriage
Jehan Safwat Raouf (Arabic: جيهان صفوت رؤوف, romanized: Jīhān Ṣafwat Raʼūf) was born in Cairo, Egypt, as the first girl and third child of an upper-middle-class family of an Egyptian surgeon father, Safwat Raouf, and English music teacher mother, Gladys Cotterill. Her mother was the daughter of Charles Henry Cotterill, a Sheffield City police superintendent.
As a teenage schoolgirl, she was intrigued by Anwar Sadat as a local hero, through following reports in the media about his adventures, in addition to his courage, loyalty, and determination in resisting the British occupation of Egypt. The couple married on 29 May 1949, after some hesitation, and objections from her parents to the idea of their daughter marrying a jobless revolutionary. He was 30, while she was 15.
First Lady of Egypt
Over the course of 32 years, Sadat was a supportive wife for her husband, who, in his rising political career, would go on to become President of Egypt. Sadat became First Lady of Egypt in 1970, and used her platform to touch the lives of millions inside her country, serving as a role model for women everywhere.
Reforming Civil Rights Laws
Sadat played a key role in reforming Egypt's civil rights laws during the late 1970s.
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Humanitarian Work and Activism
After visiting wounded soldiers at the Suez front during the Six-Day War in 1967, she founded al Wafa' Wa Amal (Faith and Hope) Rehabilitation Center, which offers disabled war veterans medical and rehabilitation services and vocational training. She headed the Egyptian delegation to the UN International Women's Conferences in Mexico City and Copenhagen. She founded the Arab-African Women's League.
The Assassination of Anwar Sadat
On 6 October 1981, Sadat's husband was assassinated by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad during the annual victory parade held in Cairo to celebrate Operation Badr.
Education and Later Life
Sadat gained a BA in Arabic Literature at Cairo University in 1977. In 1986, Sadat was controversially paid a salary of $350,000 to teach for three semesters by James B. She also wrote an autobiography, A Woman of Egypt (ISBN 0-7432-3708-0), published by Simon & Schuster in 1987, as well as poetry in Arabic, under a pseudonym.
Death
Jehan Sadat died on 9 July 2021, at the age of 87.
Awards and Recognition
Sadat was the recipient of several national and international awards for public service and humanitarian efforts for women and children. She also received more than 20 honorary doctorate degrees from national and international colleges and universities around the world. In 1993, she received the Community of Christ International Peace Award, whilst in 2001, she was the winner of the Pearl S. Buck Award.
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Summary of Key Achievements
| Achievement | Description |
|---|---|
| Reforming Civil Rights Laws | Played a key role in reforming Egypt's civil rights laws during the late 1970s. |
| Founded Al Wafa' Wa Amal Rehabilitation Center | Offered medical and rehabilitation services and vocational training to disabled war veterans. |
| Headed Egyptian Delegation | Represented Egypt at the UN International Women's Conferences in Mexico City and Copenhagen. |
| Founded Arab-African Women's League | Established an organization to support women's rights and development in Arab and African nations. |
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