Egypt: Sadat's widow dies aged 88

The widow of late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat has died at the age of 88, Reuters has reported. Jehan Sadat spent a decade as the country’s first lady. She was born in 1933, and had four children following her marriage to Anwar Sadat in 1949.

After her husband’s assassination in 1981, Sadat went on to teach as well as write, having earned a doctorate in comparative literature from Cairo University.

“She presented an example for the Egyptian woman in supporting her husband during the most difficult and delicate circumstances,” said the Egyptian presidency. This was a reference to the October War with Israel in 1973.

The official statement added that Sadat would be awarded a national medal posthumously and have a Cairo highway named after her.

Anwar Sadat participated in the 1952 revolution that overthrew Egypt’s monarchy, and became president in 1970 following the death of Gamal Abdel Nasser. As first lady, Jehan Sadat took an interest in veterans and those lost in Egypt’s wars, setting up a rehabilitation charity as well as heading Egypt’s Red Crescent Society. She was also concerned with women’s issues and represented Egypt often in international conferences.

Sadat had been in poor health, and will be laid to rest today beside her husband at Egypt’s Unknown Soldier memorial.

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