Al-Laithi Abdel Nasser
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Al-Laithi Abdel Nasser | |
|---|---|
| اليثي عبدالناصر | |
| Secretary of the Arab Socialist Union in Alexandria | |
| In office 1960s–1968 | |
| President | Gamal Abdel Nasser |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1920s |
| Died | November 19, 1976 |
| Party | Arab Socialist Union |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Gamal Abdel Nasser (brother) Tarek Abdel Nasser (brother) Aida Abdel Nasser (sister) Khalid Abdel Nasser (nephew) Hakim Abdel Nasser (nephew) Hoda Gamal Abdel Nasser (niece) |
Al-Laithi Abdel Nasser (Arabic: اليثي عبدالناصرC. 1920s – November 19, 1976) was an Egyptian political official and the brother of Egypt's second president, Gamal Abdel Nasser. He held significant influence in Alexandria, serving as the Secretary of the Arab Socialist Union (ASU) in the city during the 1960s.[1][2][3]
Al-Laithi was born in Alexandria, the son of Abdel Nasser Hussein, and Fahima Mohammad Hammad.[3] While his brother Gamal led the 1952 Revolution and became president, Al-Laithi remained a prominent figure in their home city of Alexandria.[3]
Nasser was known to have reprimanded Al-Laithi on several occasions to ensure that his political and commercial activities did not conflict with the presidency's image of state-led socialism and austerity.[4][5]
Political career
Al-Laithi rose to prominence as the Secretary of the Arab Socialist Union in Alexandria, which was the sole authorized political party in Egypt at the time.[1]
Historian Ahmad Hamroush noted that Al-Laithi's leadership in Alexandria was a key component of the political landscape in the mid-1960s, though it was often viewed by critics as a form of familial patronage.[2] Due to his extensive local influence, he was sometimes informally referred to in media and political circles as the "unofficial king of Alexandria".[3]
The 1968 Student Protests
Al-Laithi faced national criticism after the 1967 Six-Day War. In November 1968, students at Alexandria University demanded his removal, seeing him as a symbol of nepotism and corruption. These protests prompted the Nasser administration to consider political reforms.[1]
Later Life and Death
Subsequent to the death of Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1970 and the Corrective Revolution led by his successor, Anwar Sadat, the political role of the Nasser family significantly diminished. Al-Laithi withdrew from his high-profile political roles as Sadat dismantled the old ASU structures.[3] Al-Laithi passed away on November 19, 1976. His death was noted in regional archives as the passing of a major figure from the revolutionary generation.[6] He was survived by his wife, Zeinat Abdel Latif.[7]