Mervat El-Tella: Suzanne Mubarak and Jihan Sadat worked with sincerity; society wronged them

Former Minister of Insurance and Pensions Mervat El-Tella has strongly defended the legacies of Suzanne Mubarak and the late Jihan Sadat, asserting that both women acted with sincerity and good intentions throughout their public lives. El-Tella believes that Egyptian society and the press have unfairly distorted the developmental and cultural roles these prominent figures played over decades.

Responding to questions about Suzanne Mubarak's intentions and the accusations leveled against her after the fall of the Mubarak regime in 2011, El-Tella stated unequivocally, "Everything said about Suzanne Mubarak after 2011 is completely untrue. Society wronged her, and the press distorted the reality of her actions." She extended this defense to Jihan Sadat, emphasizing that both women were dedicated to Egypt's benefit.

El-Tella described Suzanne Mubarak as a virtuous and highly cultured woman who prioritized awareness and knowledge. She recalled Mubarak's instrumental role in major national and cultural projects, many of which current generations benefit from without realizing it. Specifically, El-Tella credited Mubarak with initiating the National Museum of Civilization project, engaging extensively with international parties to secure significant investments. Mubarak also spearheaded efforts to revive the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, aiming to make it Egypt's window to the world. Her focus, El-Tella added, was on making books accessible to youth and students at low prices to foster culture and knowledge dissemination.

When asked to compare the tangible positive impact of Suzanne Mubarak and Jihan Sadat, El-Tella declared, "Certainly, Suzanne Mubarak's actions and her footprints on the ground were stronger and more lasting." She concluded that history ultimately vindicates those with genuine achievements, and the enduring cultural and developmental projects in Egypt serve as the most powerful response to campaigns that have sought to tarnish the reputations of prominent women who managed social work in previous eras.