Sherif Hatata

Sharif Hatata (; 13 September 1923 – 22 May 2017) was an Egyptian doctor, author and communist activist.

Early life Hatata was born in Egypt on 13 September 1923 Fathallah Hetata Pasha, and an English mother. His father was a Western-educated, feudal landowner,

Activism In the years immediately following World War II, Hatata was invited and accepted to join Iskra, Hatata cited his reasoning for joining Iskra because the left-wing movement in Egypt in general was "progressive, open... wasn't traditional or fanatical," while other ideological movements seemed predicated on "emotional patriotism."

He was released after the monarchy was overthrown by a group of revolutionary officers in July 1952. When two of Hatata's DMNL comrades escaped detention, they fled and temporarily stayed at Hatata's home. Hatata was under police surveillance at the time and upon learning of it, the three left for the house of another released DMNL comrade. However, they were tracked down and arrested. Nasser grew critical of the ASU at the time, claiming it was falling short of mentoring "socialist democracy" in Egypt. In December 1964, the ASU leadership was reorganized with the establishment of a 16-member secretariat-general, of which six were original communists, including Hatata.

Family Hatata was married to the prominent Egyptian writer for the Women’s liberation Nawal El Saadawi; the couple met in 1964 and got married the same year. They lived in Cairo, but built a small house in Hatata's home village where they traveled to a number of times a year. The couple had one son, Atef Hatata, who is a film director in Egypt. From 2006 until his death Hatata was married to Egyptian writer and film critic Dr. Amal Elgamal (أمـــل الجمل). (21)