Khalifa Ahmad Mubarak
Khalifa Ahmad Mubarak | |
|---|---|
| Born | Khalifa Ahmad Abdulaziz Mubarak 1947 |
| Died | 8 February 1984 (aged 36–37) Paris, France |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Years active | 1970s–1984 |
| Children | 4, including Khaldon |
| Awards | Legion of Honour |
Khalifa Ahmad Mubarak (Arabic: خليفة أحمد مبارك; 1947–1984) was an Emirati diplomat who was assassinated in Paris on 8 February 1984 while serving as the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to France.
Early life and education[edit]
Mubarak was born in 1947.[1] He hailed from a leading merchant family.[2] His father, Sheikh Ahmad bin Abdulaziz, helped the establishment of the UAE's judiciary system and served as the head of the UAE's Sharia Judicial Department.[1][3]
Mubarak obtained a university degree in philosophy and sociology in Beirut, Lebanon.[1]
Career and assassination[edit]
Mubarak was promoted to the rank of minister plenipotentiary and became the permanent representative of the UAE to the UNESCO in Paris on 22 November 1973.[1] During his tenure he was vice president of the Institut du Monde Arabe.[1] He was also named as the ambassador to Sudan in 1973.[1] Then he became the ambassador to Syria in 1976.[1]
Mubarak was appointed the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to France in 1980.[4] He was shot by a man in front of his residence on Avenue Charles Floquet in Paris on 8 February 1984.[4][5] He died at Saint Anne's Hospital after the attack.[6][7] The Arab Revolutionary Brigades assumed the responsibility of the murder arguing that they killed him due to the links of the UAE to American imperialism and its expulsion of Palestinians.[6][8] Atef Abu Bakr, a former member of the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO), claimed in 2015 that Mubarak was murdered by the ANO.[9]
Following the assassination of Mubarak the UAE declared a three-day mourning period.[10]
Mubarak was succeeded by Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Jarman as the UAE's ambassador to France.[11]
Personal life and awards[edit]
Mubarak was married and had four children, including Razan, Mohammad and Khaldon.[3][5][11]
Mubarak was a recipient of the French award Legion of Honour.[1]
Legacy[edit]
A street in Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Al Mubarak, was named in memory of him in 2014.[7][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "خليفة المبارك شهيد فوق العادة". Al Bayan (in Arabic). 29 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Christopher M. Davidson (2011). Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond. London: Hurst. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-84904-153-9.
- ^ a b Simeon Kerr; Andrew England (3 December 2019). "The rise of Abu Dhabi power broker Khaldoon Al Mubarak". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Emirates' Ambassador To France Assassinated". The Washington Post. 9 February 1984. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Envoy for United Arab Emirates is slain in Paris". The New York Times. 9 February 1984. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ a b Brigid Phillips (8 February 1984). "A gunman pumped two bullets into the head". United Press International. Paris. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ a b Samir Salama (19 August 2015). "Brave who gave their all for the nation". Gulf News. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Con Coughlin (1 January 2021). "French courts seek justice for Abu Nidal's victims 40 years on". The National. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Al Arabiya reveals how Abu Nidal had representatives in Europe". Al Arabiya English. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Ibrahim Abed; Paula Casey-Vine; Abdullah Al Jabali, eds. (1996). Chronicle of Progress. London: Trident Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-900724-03-6.
- ^ a b c Samir Salama (28 February 2014). "Khalifa Al Mubarak street a tribute to ultimate sacrifice". Gulf News. Retrieved 27 November 2023.