Safwat El-Sherif facts for kids

Mohamed Safwat El Sherif (Arabic: محمد صفوت الشريف; 19 December 1933 – 13 January 2021) was an important Egyptian politician. He held many big jobs in the government. He was the head of the State Information Service, the minister of information, and the speaker of the Egyptian Shura Council. He also led the main political party, the National Democratic Party.

El Sherif studied military sciences and also learned a lot about intelligence, information, and communication. He is known as one of the politicians who served the longest in Egypt. He was the minister of information for a very long time, from 1982 to 2004.

Life Story of Safwat El Sherif

Mohamed Safwat Yousef El Sherif was born on 19 December 1933 in Gharbia Governorate. He finished his studies in military sciences in 1952. Safwat El Sherif was married to Ikbal Mohamed Atteya Halabi. They had two sons and one daughter.

He also earned an honorary Ph.D. in information and communication sciences. He continued his military training in planning, management, and communication. He also studied international communication and public opinion. He took courses in mass communication in Britain and Germany.

Early Career and Intelligence Work

In 1957, he started working for the General Intelligence Service (GIS). He helped create and train officers for a new department there. In 1968, he faced a review related to the intelligence service. However, he was found innocent and became a witness in the case. After this, El Sherif decided to start his own private business.

Later, he was asked to help set up an intelligence system for a country in the Gulf region. This was because of his great knowledge and connections. But President Anwar El Sadat asked him to stay and work in Egypt instead.

Joining Government Service

In 1975, El Sherif closed his business to join the State Information Service (SIS). He quickly moved up to leading roles there. From 1978 to 1980, he was the Chairman of the SIS. Then, President Anwar El-Sadat made him the President of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union in 1980. In 1982, President Hosni Mubarak appointed him as the Minister of Information. He held this important job until 2004.

In 1977, El Sherif helped start the National Democratic Party (NDP). He was a key member of the party's leadership for many years. He worked on information and communication for the party.

On 20 April 1993, El-Sherif survived an attack by an Islamic group. He had only a few injuries.

Innovations in Media

El Sherif was seen as a leader in media and communication in the Arab world. He came up with the idea for and built the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC). This is also known as the 6th of October Media City. He also started the Egyptian Satellite Company (Nilesat) in 1996. This company operates Egyptian satellites.

Because of his forward-thinking ideas and these big projects, he was called the "Knight of Arab Media" (فارس الاعلام العربي).

Political Journey

El Sherif had a very long career in politics. Before the 1952 revolution, he was part of the Muslim Brotherhood group. After the revolution, he joined the new ruling party, Masr Alfatah. Over the years, the party's name changed, but he remained a member. Eventually, it became the National Democratic Party.

In 2002, he became the Secretary-General of the National Democratic Party. From 2004, El-Sherif was the Speaker of the Shura Council. He was also the President of the Supreme Press Council. He resigned from the NDP on 29 January 2011.

Passing Away

On 13 January 2021, Mohamed Safwat El Sherif died from COVID-19.

Education and Training

• Bachelor's degree in Military Sciences
• Honorary PhD in Communication Sciences from Barrington University (now University of Atlanta)
• Military studies in communication planning and management
• Advanced studies in International Communication and Public Opinion
• Courses in Mass Communication in the British Information Service
• Courses at the International Communications Institute in Germany

Roles in Politics and Party Work

• Founding member of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 1977
• Media leader at the National Democratic Party
• Secretary for Qasr El Nile area at the National Democratic Party in 1977
• Member of the Shoura Council in 1980
• Media Secretary at the National Democratic Party in 1982
• Member of the General Secretariat of the National Democratic Party in 1982
• Member of the Political Bureau of the National Democratic Party in 1989
• Assistant Secretary Manager of the National Democratic Party and Information Secretary in 1990
• Planned and organized media campaigns for all elections and public votes for the National Democratic Party
• Member of the Committee for the Development of the National Democratic Party in 2001
• Secretary General of the National Democratic Party in 2002
• Speaker of the Shoura Council in 2004
• President of the Supreme Press Council in 2006

Previous Jobs

• Member of the Military Forces (Egyptian Armed Forces)
• Member of the National Defense Council (Egyptian Intelligence Service)
• Held leading positions in the State Information Service (SIS) from 1975 to 1978
• Chairman of the SIS (ranked as Minister of Information) from 1978 to 1980
• Head of Radio & Television Union (ranked as Minister of Information) from 1980 to 1982
• Minister of Information of Egypt from 1982 to 2004

Contributions to Information and Media

• Set the plans and rules for Egyptian media until 2010.
• Started and built the Egyptian media system for local, national, Arab, and international levels.
• Brought Egypt into the age of satellite media by launching Nilesat 101 and Nilesat 102.
• Established a huge media production project called the Egyptian Media Production City.
• Made sure Egypt had its own satellite TV channels, including the first Arabic channel and channels in other languages.
• Started educational channels to help with distance learning.
• Modernized Egyptian media organizations and improved technology in Radio and Television.
• Started the Egyptian Media People Day in 1984.
• Established the International Academy of Media Sciences.

Awards and Honors

• The Egyptian Order of Merit of the First Class from the President of Egypt.
• Legion of Merit of the Great River from Libya.
• Badges of Honour and Liberation, Bravery, Evacuation, and Mobilization from Egypt.
• Order of Merit from the Republic of Central Africa.
• National Order of Merit of the Second Class (Grand Officer) from France.
• Prize of Best Minister of Information in the Middle East from the American University in Cairo in 1998.