Egypt’s publisher Madbouli dies at 70

Mohammed Madbouli, head of major Egyptian publishing house Madbouli passed away on Friday at the age of 70 from cancer.

• Madbouli, described as “the most celebrated publisher in Egypt and the Arab world” by Egyptian daily Al-Ahram started his career by selling newspapers at the age of six.
• He was well-known for printing or distributing banned books such as poems by Ahmed Fuad Negm, known for his virulent criticism of Egyptian regime.
• Earlier in 2008, he decided not reprint two books by Egyptian writer Nawal al-Saadawi after they sparked religious controversy in Egypt.