Mohamed Morsi
Who was Mohamed Morsi?
Egypt's first democratically elected president (2012-2013) and Muslim Brotherhood leader who was removed from power in a military coup.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Mohamed Morsi (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Mohamed Morsi was born on August 8, 1951, in El-Adwah, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. He studied metallurgical engineering at Cairo University and then moved to the U.S. to study materials science at the University of Southern California. While in the U.S., he worked as an associate professor at California State University, Northridge, from 1982 to 1985. After returning to Egypt, he taught at Zagazig University and stayed active with the Muslim Brotherhood.
During Hosni Mubarak's rule, when the Muslim Brotherhood was banned, Morsi ran as an independent candidate in the 2000 parliamentary election. The Egyptian Revolution of 2011, which forced Mubarak out of power, gave new chances to groups that had been sidelined. Morsi became a key figure, leading the newly created Freedom and Justice Party, connected to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Freedom and Justice Party did very well in the 2011-12 parliamentary elections, becoming the biggest party in the legislature. This made Morsi a top candidate for president. In the 2012 presidential election, he beat Ahmed Shafik in a runoff, becoming Egypt’s first democratically elected president. On June 30, 2012, the military handed over power to Morsi, ending 60 years of military rule in Egypt.
Morsi's time as president was full of controversy and unrest. In November 2012, he issued a temporary constitutional decree that gave him considerable power, including law-making without judicial checks. This aimed to stop Mubarak-era judges from dissolving the Second Constituent Assembly but led to major criticism and protests, as many saw it as an authoritarian move. The constitutional assembly, led by Islamists, quickly drafted a new constitution that went to a referendum before the Supreme Constitutional Court could judge the assembly's legality.
Morsi's presidency ended abruptly on July 3, 2013, when General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ousted him in a military coup after big protests in June. He was jailed and faced many charges in Egyptian courts. Morsi died on June 17, 2019, in Tora Prison during a court session. He received Egyptian honors like the Order of the Nile, Order of the Republic, Order of Merit, Order of Independence, and Order of the Virtues. He was married to Naglaa Mahmoud and left a mixed legacy as Egypt’s first democratically elected president and as a divisive figure whose short term highlighted deep divisions in Egyptian society.
Before Fame
Morsi's early life was shaped by his studies in engineering and materials science. Growing up in rural Sharqia Governorate, he did well in school and earned chances to study abroad in the United States. His time as an academic in California during the 1980s gave him international experience and expertise in his field.
When he returned to Egypt, Morsi juggled his academic career at Zagazig University with his increased involvement in the Muslim Brotherhood, which had been operating quietly since the Egyptian government banned it. His background as an educated professional made him valuable to the organization, which was trying to present itself as a legitimate political option in a time when Egypt was dominated by military-backed secular governments.
Key Achievements
- Became Egypt's first democratically elected president in 2012
- Led the Freedom and Justice Party to victory as the largest party in Egypt's 2011-12 parliamentary elections
- Ended six decades of military rule in Egypt when he assumed the presidency
- Established himself as a prominent academic with expertise in materials science and metallurgical engineering
- Successfully navigated Egyptian politics as a Muslim Brotherhood member during the Mubarak era despite the organization's official ban
Did You Know?
- 01.He earned a PhD in materials science from the University of Southern California and published research papers on metal and fuel technology
- 02.Before becoming president, he served as a backup candidate for the Muslim Brotherhood, only entering the presidential race after their first choice, Khairat el-Shater, was disqualified
- 03.During his presidency, he attempted to appoint a member of a formerly militant Islamist group as governor of Luxor, Egypt's main tourist destination, sparking significant controversy
- 04.He was fluent in English due to his years studying and teaching in the United States
- 05.His presidential campaign headquarters was nicknamed 'the beehive' due to its constant activity and the large number of volunteers working there
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Order of the Nile | — | — |
| Order of the Republic | — | — |
| Order of Merit | — | — |
| Order of Independence | — | — |
| Order of the Virtues | — | — |