Sami Farag Youssef (Coptic: ⲥⲁⲙⲓ ⲫⲁⲣⲁⲅ ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ; September 1, 1935 – February 21, 2015) was an Egyptian lawyer, judge, prosecutor and Vice-President of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt. He was viewed by many as one of the most influential Copts in modern history.
He represented Egypt 5 times at the Congress of the Conference of European Constitutional Courts.
In the 1996 Conference that was held in Budapest, his performance convinced the President of the Congress to name Egypt as an observant member at the Conference of European Constitutional Courts.[1]
During his term at the Supreme Constitutional Court, he oversaw many cases involving the President of the Republic, the government and the Coptic Pope.[3][4][5][6]
Judge Sami Farag (R) at the Presidential Palace after a closed meeting with former president Hosni Mubarak (L).Judge Sami Farag (R) representing the Egyptian judiciary system in a cabinet meeting with former President Hosni Mubarak (L).
He trained and was the mentor of Egyptian President Adly Mansour.[1]
Judge Sami Farag with former President of the Republic Adly MansourSami Farag's obituary at El-Ahram state newspaper.
Personal life
Sami Farag was the father of two sons and two daughters. He also left six grandchildren.[1]
Death
On February 21, 2015, he died at the Anglo-American Hospital in Zamalek, Cairo.[7]
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi couldn't attend the funeral, so he sent General Mohamed Rostom to represent him instead.[8]
Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria said after his death that Sami Farag was "a pious and great judge, a loyal servant to his church and his country."[9]
