Mohammed Mahdi Othman Akef

The seventh General Guide (Murshid al-'am) of the Muslim Brotherhood

Born: 12th July 1928

Kafr Awad as Seneitah, Aga, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt

Died: 22nd September 2017

Al-Murshideen cemetery -  Nasr City

Qualification: Physical Education and Law - Ibrahim Pasha University (Known as Ain Shams University now)

Childhood and Early Life 

Mohammad Mahdi Othman Akef was born on 12th July 1928. After he graduated from high school, he joined the Faculty of Engineering but he transferred his studies to the Faculty of Physical Education upon the request of Al Imam Hasan Al-Banna. He also joined the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University. Akef had worked as a teacher of physical sports at (Fouad I) Secondary School.

Joining Muslim Brotherhood

Mohammad Akef met Imam Hasan Al-Banna in 1940. He joined the Muslim Brotherhood and the ''private regime'' in young age. He was famous for his actions in helping to get the General Guide Al-Hudaybi  out of the airport when he was locked up by the Egyptians authorities. 

Akef also played a major role in supporting Youssef Talaat, the head of the new ''private system''. He was also responsible for the students department of the Muslim Brotherhood. He also participated in providing weapons for the Palestine war. He also set up a camp for the Egyptians fighters at Ain Shams University as well as prepared and trained the Egyptians fighters before sending them to the Suez Canal to fight. Akif helped the General Abdel Moneim Abdel Raouf  to escape when the Egyptian military threatened to abuse him because of his participation in the success of the revolution.

Times of Hardship

Akef was arrested twice by the Egyption authorities in 1954. The first time was in January 1954 with the General Guide Al-Hudaybi along with a number of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders. He was arrested for the second time in August 1954 before the ''Manshiyya'' incident because he helped the General Abdel Moneim Abdel Raouf. However, Akef was brought to military trials after the ''Manshiyya'' incident where he was sentenced to death. The death sentence was commuted on the night of execution. He was one of the last five to be released from prison at the end of 1974. Akef was also arrested in 1996 and sentenced to 3 years in prison when the Muslim Brotherhood was accused of forming  Al-Wasat Party. In July 2013, despite Akef's  old age and illness, he was arrested after the military coup against the elected President Mohamed Morsi.

Roles and Contributions 

Akef worked in the Egyptian Ministry of Housing After he was released from prison. He travelled to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to work as a consultant for the World Assembly of Muslim Youth. He was in charge of the international camps and conferences. He moved then to Germany to work as a director of the Islamic Centre in Munich. Akef was elected in the Parliament of Egypt in 1987. He was also elected as a member of the Guidance Office of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1989 as well as for the General Guide in 2004. He left his position in 2010 to become the first former General Guide.

Death

The seventh General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mahdi Akef remained in prison despite approaching the age of ninety and his severe illness. He died inside the prison on 1st  of Muharram 1439 AH, 22nd  September 2017.