Death of Egyptian Human Rights Activist George Ishaq at 85

The National Council for Human Rights in Egypt, along with several politicians and human rights advocates, announced that prominent activist George Ishaq passed away today, Friday, at the age of 85. The council stated in a statement that the deceased left us "after a long journey of contribution to the Egyptian human rights movement and Egyptian politics, during which he was one of the key figures in developing the concepts of human rights and defending human dignity throughout his extended history in public work." Ishaq was one of the most prominent faces of the Egyptian movement for change, "Kefaya," which emerged in 2004, demanding that former President Hosni Mubarak not extend his rule or transfer it to his son. He also joined the National Association for Change in 2010. Born in Port Said Governorate in 1938, he graduated from the History Department at Cairo University's Faculty of Arts before beginning work in the field of education. He engaged in public work and published articles in several Egyptian newspapers. He ran for membership in the People's Assembly in the 2011-2012 elections, which were the first elections held after the overthrow of Mubarak's regime, but he was unsuccessful. He was chosen as a member of the National Council for Human Rights for the first time in 2011 and again in 2013, remaining a member until his death.