Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak died Tuesday, Feb. 25. He was 91.
BBC reports that he died at a military hospital. In late January, he underwent surgery and was in recovery.
In response to his death, Michael Youssef shared a statement, mourning Mubarak’s loss. Youssef is founder of Leading The Way, a worldwide ministry that uses media to evangelize, and founding pastor of The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia. Youssef was born in Egypt, where he became a Christian. In 1984, he became an American citizen.
Read his statement below:
I am so glad to learn that President el-Sisi of Egypt has ordered three days of mourning and a full military funeral for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
For 30 years, Mubarak walked a tight rope of “controlled” democracy, while cracking down on Islamists. His repeated warnings regarding the Muslim Brotherhood’s intent to Islamize the country were proven correct after his departure from office in 2011.
Former President Mubarak was a shrewd tactician and clever politician in his dealings with Israel. He talked peace and sought peace. And yet, he would not make any moves that would anger the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Unlike his predecessor, President Sadat, who was known for his dramatics, Mubarak sought quiet and behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
As Mubarak began to age in office, many of his trusted advisers began to abuse their power. Some of the police apparatus took advantage of the president’s relative isolation from running the day-to-day operation of the country to assert their own power and increase their own wealth.
In many ways, Mubarak’s ouster and the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power taught the most ardent Muslim Brotherhood supporters a very painful lesson. In less than 12 months after seizing power, the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule brought the nation to its knees economically. Yet, it also brought 15 million Christians to their knees—in prayer.
Now, with the benefit of history, no one can deny that the rise of President el-Sisi to power was a direct answer to the Christians’ prayers. President el-Sisi has proven that he is truly God’s gift, not only to Egypt and the region but also the world.
Unlike Mubarak, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is a man of true integrity without intrigue. He has brought about stability, prosperity and equality among the different factions, taking bold measures to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood, protecting Christian minorities and even rebuilding churches. He understands the danger of political Islam. He does not feel beholden to political correctness. The leaders of the United States and Europe would do well to listen to him.
Egypt can now say “goodbye” to President Mubarak while its citizenry is at peace and looking forward to great prosperity under the leadership of another son of the military.
