The academic and political community on Friday received the news of the deaths of Laila ElBaradei, a professor of public administration at the American University in Cairo (AUC), and her husband, engineer Ibrahim Shoukry, in a car accident.
Newspapers and news websites did not report the accident as any ordinary news item, but rather transformed it into an obituary, a fitting farewell for two figures who left a profound mark in their fields.
Who was Laila ElBaradei?
ElBaradei is the former dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science and the sister of Mohamed the former Vice President of Egypt, Mohamed ElBaradei, the former dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Mona ElBaradei, Dr. Ali ElBaradei; and Dr. Tarek ElBaradei.
She was the first Egyptian and Arab woman to win the International Public Administration Award in 2024 from the American Public Affairs Association, a major academic and research achievement for the AUC.
She earned her MBA from the AUC and her PhD from Cairo University.
She also served as a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University for approximately 15 years before moving to the American University in Cairo in 2006.
For several years, she served as Associate Dean for Research at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at AUC, helping to sponsor and establish several research centers and projects within the university.
Emotional obituaries pour in
Though headlines varied, the tone was consistent. A solemn sadness and sincere gratitude were expressed by Al-Ahram newspaper in its description of ElBaradei, articulated by the head of the National Council for Women, Amal Ammar, as: “A great lady who taught generations and left a clear impact and imprint in the memory of all who knew her.”
Al-Shorouk highlighted her long academic career and contributions to developing economics curricula and graduating generations of researchers.
Al-Masry Al-Youm combined the two figures in a single obituary, writing about the shock of ElBaradei’s students at her sudden death.
Al-Balad News website headlined its obituary: “The Departure of the Two Comrades… A Life of Love for Country and Science.”
Analyzing the obituaries
The coverage focused on telling the story, not simply announcing their deaths. The Al-Watan newspaper focused on the loving and appreciative relationship between ElBaradei and Shoukry, the son of the late Labor Party leader and former minister Ibrahim Shoukry.
News sites such as Masrawy and Al-Ahram Gate published opinion pieces written by students and colleagues of the late academic, discussing her humility, her support for students, and her commitment to the values of integrity.
Politics were not absent from the obituaries, especially regarding Shoukry.
Newspapers reviewed his father’s patriotic stance, his affiliation with the Agrarian Reform Movement, his role in political life, particularly the founding of the Labor Party, and his contributions to supporting the national economy over the past century.
Overall, the coverage took on a humane tone, and perhaps this is what distinguished the obituary style in Egyptian newspapers this time, to do justice to those who passed away silently but with a lasting impact.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
How did the Egyptian press bid farewell to Laila ElBaradei and Ibrahim Shoukry? Egypt Independent.
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