Iskra (Egyptian communist organisation)
Encyclopedia
Iskra was a communist organization in Egypt
. Iskra was founded in 1942 by Hillel Schwartz
. In the initial phase of its existence, the membership of Iskra was a few tens.
The followers of Iskra were, like the supporters of other Egyptian communist factions, active inside the Wafdist Vanguard (see Wafd
).
Iskra emphazised studies of Marxist
theory and its application in Egyptian society. The approach of Iskra was that the first task of the communists was to build a base amongst revolutionary intellectuals, and that mass mobilisation would follow at a later stage.
In 1944 Iskra established a study centre, Dar al-abahth al-'ilmiya (دار الأبحاث العلمية, House of Scientific Research). The centre published literature and gave classes on communist thought.
In 1945 Iskra was one of the forces behind the foundation of the National People's University, an institution that provided courses in politics and social sciences for labour activists.
In February 1946, Iskra was one of the groups that organised the National Committee of Workers and Students, a mass movement for national independence and social reforms. The National Committee lasted until July the same year.
In 1947 began publishing the newspaper al-Jamahir (الجماهير, 'The Masses'). Shudi Atiya ash-Shafi
was the director of the House of Scientific Research and later the editor of al-Jamahir. Ash-Shafi had been the first Egyptian Muslim
to become part of the Iskra leadership.
In 1947 Iskra merged with the Egyptian Movement for National Liberation (HAMITU) to form the Democratic Movement for National Liberation
.
area. A large number of the Iskra cadres were Europeanised Jews
or belonging to other European minorities. Many of the Iskra activists belonged to the upper strata of Cairo society, and were often recruited from the Lycée Français du Caire
. The recruitment was often done through arranging parties and social events. In 1945, Iskra had a membership of about 900. 40% of them were foreigners.
Notably the Jewish members of the Iskra leadership took a more militant anti-Zionist
approach that non-Jewish cadres. Around 1946/early 1947 they formed the Jewish Anti-Zionist League
.
It was in Iskra that the first female communists were organized in Egypt. Some of the first women cadres were Latifa az-Zayyat, Soraya Adham, Fatma Zaki, Inge Aflatun, Aimée Setton and Odette Hazan Solomon.
The Iskra group soon got the reputation of being a haven for sexual libertinism. In fact the anti-communist
discourse in Egypt at the time, which was centered around claims that the communist movement was morally depraved and dominated by Jews, was largely based on the reputation of the Iskra group. Other communist factions became harshly critical of Iskra, especially the role of women in the organisation. Henri Curiel
, leader of HAMITU, criticized Iskra for organizing parties as a tool for political recruitment.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Iskra was founded in 1942 by Hillel Schwartz
Hillel Schwartz
Hillel Schwartz, an Egyptian Jew, was the founder of the Iskra party, a small Communist political party which was one of the pre-revolutionary Egyptian political groupings that advocated full independence from Great Britain...
. In the initial phase of its existence, the membership of Iskra was a few tens.
The followers of Iskra were, like the supporters of other Egyptian communist factions, active inside the Wafdist Vanguard (see Wafd
WAFD
WAFD is a Hot Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Webster Springs, West Virginia, serving East Central West Virginia. WAFD is owned and operated by Summit Media Broadcasting, LLC.-External links:*...
).
Iskra emphazised studies of Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
theory and its application in Egyptian society. The approach of Iskra was that the first task of the communists was to build a base amongst revolutionary intellectuals, and that mass mobilisation would follow at a later stage.
In 1944 Iskra established a study centre, Dar al-abahth al-'ilmiya (دار الأبحاث العلمية, House of Scientific Research). The centre published literature and gave classes on communist thought.
In 1945 Iskra was one of the forces behind the foundation of the National People's University, an institution that provided courses in politics and social sciences for labour activists.
In February 1946, Iskra was one of the groups that organised the National Committee of Workers and Students, a mass movement for national independence and social reforms. The National Committee lasted until July the same year.
In 1947 began publishing the newspaper al-Jamahir (الجماهير, 'The Masses'). Shudi Atiya ash-Shafi
Shudi Atiya ash-Shafi
Shudi Atiya ash-Shafi was an Egyptian communist theoretician and activist. Ash-Shafi studied in Britain, and returned to Egypt in 1942 with a Master of Arts degree from Exeter College. After his return to Egypt he was employed at the Ministry of Education as an English-language supervisor. He...
was the director of the House of Scientific Research and later the editor of al-Jamahir. Ash-Shafi had been the first Egyptian Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
to become part of the Iskra leadership.
In 1947 Iskra merged with the Egyptian Movement for National Liberation (HAMITU) to form the Democratic Movement for National Liberation
Democratic Movement for National Liberation
The Democratic Movement for National Liberation was a communist organization in Egypt 1947-1955. HADITU was led by Henri Curiel. The movement followed a line of National Democratic Revolution....
.
Social profile
In comparison to other contemporary communist organisations in Egypt, the membership of Iskra largely consisted of intellectuals. Like all communist groups, the cadres were mainly urban and based in the CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
area. A large number of the Iskra cadres were Europeanised Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
or belonging to other European minorities. Many of the Iskra activists belonged to the upper strata of Cairo society, and were often recruited from the Lycée Français du Caire
Lycée Français du Caire
Lycée Français du Caire is a French preparatory, primary, and secondary school. The school's main language of instruction is French, while Arabic and English are taught in the primary, Spanish or German are taught in later years...
. The recruitment was often done through arranging parties and social events. In 1945, Iskra had a membership of about 900. 40% of them were foreigners.
Notably the Jewish members of the Iskra leadership took a more militant anti-Zionist
Anti-Zionism
Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionistic views or opposition to the state of Israel. The term is used to describe various religious, moral and political points of view in opposition to these, but their diversity of motivation and expression is sufficiently different that "anti-Zionism" cannot be...
approach that non-Jewish cadres. Around 1946/early 1947 they formed the Jewish Anti-Zionist League
Jewish Anti-Zionist League
Jewish Anti-Zionist League was a political organisation in Egypt. The organization had branches in Alexandria and Cairo. The League conducted militant agitations in the Jewish neighbourhoods of Cairo....
.
It was in Iskra that the first female communists were organized in Egypt. Some of the first women cadres were Latifa az-Zayyat, Soraya Adham, Fatma Zaki, Inge Aflatun, Aimée Setton and Odette Hazan Solomon.
The Iskra group soon got the reputation of being a haven for sexual libertinism. In fact the anti-communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
discourse in Egypt at the time, which was centered around claims that the communist movement was morally depraved and dominated by Jews, was largely based on the reputation of the Iskra group. Other communist factions became harshly critical of Iskra, especially the role of women in the organisation. Henri Curiel
Henri Curiel
Henri Curiel was a left-wing political activist. Born in Egypt, Curiel led the communist Democratic Movement for National Liberation until he was expelled from the country in 1950. Settling in France, Curiel aided the Algerian Front de Libération Nationale and other national liberation causes...
, leader of HAMITU, criticized Iskra for organizing parties as a tool for political recruitment.