CAIRO �" Young at heart despite his 86 years, white-bearded Sheikh Hafez Salama was no less enthusiastic than any of the young revolutionaries in Al Tahrir Square in central Cairo. In his coastal hometown of Suez, Salama was a real support to the popular uprising of January 25, which started as a peaceful protest but grew fierce when police attacked demonstrators. The January 25 revolution breathed new life into Salama, a man who has a long history of struggle, which started back in the l940s during World War II when Egypt was under British occupation. In the world press, Salama was dubbed the leader of popular resistance in Suez and today he has been described by international news agencies as ‘the elderly man that provided Tahrir Square with the fuel needed to keep the fire burning'. Before turning 20 years of age, he had already been helping the Palestinian resistance by providing its men with materials to make hand-made bombs. As a member of the Mohamed Youth Society, formed by a group of Muslim Brothers dissidents in 1948, Salama became a true patriot in resisting the British occupation. He later on formed a group of fedayaeen (those will risk sacrificing themselves to defend a cause or doctrine) to attack British bases on the outskirts of the city in order to lay hands on whatever ammunition was within reach. Salama's popularity, however, was mainly attributable to his role in the October l973 war against Israel. According to the late Saad Eddin el-Shazli, the Egyptian Army Chief of Staff in the October War, “he was the man chosen by fate to play a major role in the period between October 23 and 28, l973 to defend Suez and foil Israeli plans to occupy the dauntless city.” The unrelenting young man had a cause to advocate in each phase of the country's history. In the post-1953 revolution period, he wrote a series of articles criticising the Egyptian-Soviet relations, which eventually landed him behind bars. He remained in prison as a political detainee for almost l5 years. Upon his release in l967, he returned to Suez, where he founded the Islamic Guidance Society which took upon itself the mission of popular armed resistance against Israel in the war of attrition up until l973. He became at the time the Imam of their Martyrs' Mosque in Suez preaching to worshippers about integrity and freedom. His leadership abilities were high and ripe when he lead the masses in l973 to remain steadfast. They refused to surrender the city when Israeli forces had managed to besiege the Third Army stationed on the east side of the Suez Canal with the purpose of occupying Suez and marching onwards to reach Cairo. Thanks to Salama and many other brave men the popular resistance thwarted the Israeli plans, although two infantry battalions in addition to 200 tanks had made entry into the city. Aided by the Egyptian Armed Forces, popular resistance engaged with the enemy and destroyed some 76 tanks that penetrated the city. Governed by the very same spirit of liberation, Salama was seen in the streets of Suez closing the ranks of protesters of the the age of his children and grandchildren in the first three days of the January 25 uprising. His persistence and stimulation were inspired protesters to go on opposing the corrupt regime. A statement was circulated in Suez recognising Sheikh Salama as the man leading the helm of the Suez upheaval. On the ‘Friday of Anger' (January 28) Salama decided to share with the Al-Tahrir youth in their revolution, which he did. He then returned to Suez to organise popular vigilante groups to protect houses and property against runaway thugs and convicts in the absence of the police. His strong contacts with traders of Suez and neighbouring governorates enabled him to collect five tonnes of wheat flour so that bakeries would continue providing the city with bread. The lack of flour was no coincidence as it was part of a scheme to put pressure on the city to stop protesting. Groups of young men were directed by Sheikh Salama to distribute loaves of bread free of charge to areas on the outskirts of the city and to supply vegetables at affordable prices.
