Bulukumba News – The sky in Cairo that afternoon was clear. Rows of fighter jets cut through the air, leaving trails of white smoke above the stands of honor. Military music boomed. Thousands of eyes were focused on the large parade held to commemorate Egypt’s victory in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
In the main stand, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat sat upright in his regalia. He looked calm. Occasionally smiling while returning the salute of troops passing in front of him. Then everything changed in a matter of seconds.
A military truck suddenly stopped. An officer came down and saluted the president. Sadat stood up to return the salute. But what came after was not a military salute—but a grenade explosion and a barrage of automatic bullets. Chaos broke out in the middle of the parade. And Egypt watched its president collapse in a pool of blood, shot by his own soldiers.
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A parade that turns into a political execution
The incident occurred on October 6, 1981, just as Egypt commemorated the success of its troops crossing the Suez Canal in the Yom Kippur War against Israel in 1973.
According to reports The New York Timesthe military parade took place with very tight security. As is general procedure, weapons used in parades are usually not loaded with live ammunition.
However, without realizing it, the troop convoy had been infiltrated by a group carrying out an assassination mission.
As military vehicles passed in front of the stands, a truck stopped suddenly. One of the officers on board the vehicle got out and saluted President Sadat. Sadat stood up to return the salute.
In a split second, three grenades were thrown towards the main stand. After the first explosion, a barrage of automatic bullets rained down on the honor area.
People are running. Screams filled the air. The guards panicked looking for cover, while President Sadat’s body collapsed from gunfire.
He was immediately rushed to hospital and underwent surgery. But his life could not be saved. Anwar Sadat died on the same day.
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The peace that divided Egypt
The murder was not just an ordinary act of terror. It was born out of long-simmering political and ideological anger in Egypt.
Since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, Egypt has been known as one of the Arab countries that strongly opposes Zionism. Egypt was involved in various wars against Israel, including the Yom Kippur War in 1973 which became a symbol of the rise of Arab self-respect.
However, the direction of history changed when Anwar Sadat took steps that shocked the world. On March 26, 1979, Sadat signed the Camp David Peace Agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, witnessed by US President Jimmy Carter.
The deal makes Egypt the first Arab country to officially make peace with Israel.
In Anwar Sadat’s book: Visionary Who Dared (2013)Sadat is said to have believed that Israel could not be completely defeated through war. He chose diplomacy as a way to save Egypt from prolonged conflict.
But the decision sparked a huge wave of anger. Many people believe that Sadat has betrayed the struggle of Palestine and the Arab world.
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From disappointment was born the Egyptian Islamic Jihad
Rejection of Sadat developed into an increasingly radical underground movement. One of the most violent groups is the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.
This group emerged from a combination of political anger, ideological fanaticism and frustration with Egypt’s relations with the West and Israel. The mastermind behind Sadat’s murder was Lieutenant Khalid Islambouli, a member of the group and an active Egyptian soldier. He took advantage of his position in the military to infiltrate the state parade.
What makes this tragedy even more shocking is the fact that the murder was carried out by someone from the circle that was supposed to protect the president. The country is being attacked from within itself.
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Death that changed the Middle East
Sadat’s death rocked the Arab and international world. In many Western countries, he is remembered as a brave leader who chose peace amidst long hostility.
However, in some hardline groups, Sadat is actually seen as a symbol of betrayal.
The assassination shows one important thing: peace in the Middle East is not just a matter of diplomacy between countries, but also a battle of identities, ideologies and historical emotions.
After Sadat died, the presidential seat was filled by Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian government then carried out massive crackdowns on radical groups.
Khalid Islambouli was arrested at the scene. He was tried and sentenced to death. The execution was carried out on April 15, 1982. However, even though the perpetrator was punished, the political wounds left by the tragedy never truly disappeared.
Shadows that still live today
Four decades have passed since the bloody parade in Cairo. But Anwar Sadat’s story remains a reminder that political decisions in the Middle East often come with a very high price.
Even today, the issue of normalizing relations with Israel still sparks strong debate in many Arab countries. Some see it as a realistic step for regional stability. Others consider it a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
And amidst all this, Anwar Sadat’s name continues to be remembered—to some as a peacemaker, to others as a leader who went too far.
History often records war through the number of victims and weapons explosions. But sometimes, a decision to make peace actually gives birth to a quieter—and more lasting—tragedy.
In Cairo, on that originally celebratory afternoon, the world learned that in the Middle East, peace can also be the reason someone loses their life.***
