Rafik Habib
Born
Rafik Samuel Habib

1959 (age 64–65)
Minya, Egypt
NationalityEgyptian
Alma materCairo University
Ain Shams University
Occupation(s)Political researcher, analyst, author, politician

Rafik Habib (Arabic: رفيق حبيب; born in 1959) is an Egyptian political researcher, and analyst, sometimes described as a Coptic intellectual. He serves as Senior Director for IT & Decision Support of CEOSS, an Egyptian, development organization.[1][2]

Biography

Habib was born in 1959 in Minya, Upper Egypt. He was the son of Samuel Habib, an evangelical pastor of a mega-church who served as president of the Evangelical Denomination in Egypt for many years, from 1980 to 1997.[3][4]

In 1982, Habib graduated from the Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology at Cairo University. In 1988, he received his PhD in Psychology from Ain Shams University.[4][5][6]

He said his first interaction with the Muslim Brotherhood was in 1989 when he began researching Islamist movements.[7]

He was instrumental in the founding of the Al-Wasat Party, a moderate centrist, Islamist party, founded in 1996[5] and in July 2011, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, which confused a lot of people given that he is Christian.[8][9]

He was criticized by many for backing the Muslim Brotherhood. The Orthodox Coptic Pope, Pope Shenouda described him as being "an insurgent Protestant" and other people said he had converted to Islam.[5][10]

He resigned from the position in December 2012- he was one of several advisers to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi who resigned in the midst of the 2012 Egyptian protests.[6]

In 2014, he predicted there would be a counter-coup.[1] He maintains a personal homepage where he posts his views with links to his articles published to a website called Scribd.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Coptic intellectual predicts counter-coup". Middle East Monitor. February 8, 2014. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. ^ "CEOSS Board". CEOSS. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. ^ O'Neil, Tyler (September 14, 2013). "Egyptian Christian, Who Is Son of Coptic Leader, to Lead Muslim Brotherhood Party in Egypt?". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Rafik Habib: On Sharia, State, and Christianity". A sense of belonging. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Peter E. Makari (2007). Conflict & Cooperation: Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Egypt. Syracuse University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-8156-3144-6. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Coptic FJP leader and presidential advisor quits political life – Politics – Egypt". Ahram Online. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Bradley Hope. "A Coptic Christian's reasons for backing the Muslim Brotherhood". The National. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  8. ^ Elizabeth Iskander (May 31, 2012). Sectarian Conflict in Egypt: Coptic Media, Identity and Representation. Routledge. pp. 183–. ISBN 978-0-415-69578-7. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  9. ^ Bradley Hope. "Morsi defends actions, calls for national dialogue meeting". The National. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  10. ^ "Rafik Habib". Islamopediaonline. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  11. ^ Habib, Rafik. "Dr. Rafiq Habib". Rafik Habib personal webpage. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

External references

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