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Death and state funeral of Gamal Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser, the 2nd president of Egypt, died on 28 September 1970, at age 52. Abdel Nasser, one of the most respected and revered Arab leaders, died suddenly after bidding farewell to the Emir of Kuwait at the airport, as soon as the work of the emergency Arab summit ended. Vice president Anwar Sadat gave a speech to the nation announcing the death of Nasser.[1] After the news of his death came out, Egyptian television and radio hastily began reciting the verses of the Qur'an.[2] Nasser had never recovered from the second stroke in four years.[2]

Death and state funeral of Gamal Abdel Nasser
Date28 September 1970
1 October 1970 (Funeral service)
LocationCairo, United Arab Republic
ParticipantsState officials, foreign delegations, citizens

He was succeeded by his vice president, Anwar Sadat. His funeral was attended by millions of Egyptians and foreign mourners, including leaders. At least 46 people were killed and 80 injured in the stampede.[1] The United Arab Republic declared 40 days of mourning,[3] India three days,[4] and Algeria at least three days. Cuba, East Germany and Yugoslavia also declared one day of mourning each.

Illness and death

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Nasser was a heavy smoker and had a family history of heart attacks. He was also suffering from diabetes. He had a heart attack in 1966 and September 1969.

At the time of his death, Abdel Nasser was mediating between the King of Jordan and the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization to stop the their civil unrest.[5]

Funeral service

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Nasser's funeral procession attended by five million mourners in Cairo, 1 October 1970
 
Gamal Abdel Nasser Mosque in Cairo, the site of his burial

The funeral was attended by all Arab leaders, with the exception of the aging Saudi monarch. Even in Arab countries, people came out to express their grief. In Jerusalem, about 75,000 Palestinians marched, chanting "Nasser will never die".[6]

Dignitaries

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States
Organizations

Suspicions

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Doubts arose about the cause of death, including that he was poisoned, but these allegations were not supported by evidence.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kramer, Martin (29 September 2020). "Nasser's death, 50 years on".
  2. ^ a b Scott, Alina (23 October 2020). "Fifty Years On: Remembering Gamal Abd al-Nasser". Not Even Past.
  3. ^ "Death of Egypt's Abdel Nasser, 50 Years Ago".
  4. ^ Indian National Congress (1970). Socialist India. Indian National Congress. All India Congress Committee. p. 4.
  5. ^ Staff, Our Foreign (29 September 2014). "From the archive, 29 September 1970: President Nasser dies of heart attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. ^ "انهيار زعماء الدول.. مشاهد مُبكية من جنازة جمال عبدالناصر". 28 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Nasser did not die of poisoned coffee: doctor". Al Arabiya English. 26 September 2010.
  8. ^ "StackPath". dailynewsegypt.com.
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