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10 Remarkable Egyptians We Lost In The Past Year

Ahmed Zewail is not the only exceptional Egyptian we have said goodbye to this past year.

Staff Writer

10 Remarkable Egyptians We Lost In The Past Year

With the sad news currently circulating about the burial of beloved Egyptian genius, Ahmed Zewail just today, we have come to the upsetting realisation that the country has said goodbye to some of incredible people just this year.

We have compiled here a list of ten of those whom we lost but whose presence will forever grace the heart and veins of the country. They will forever be a source of pride for their fellow people and others from across the world.

Ahmed Zewail (3 August, 2016)

1999 Nobel Prize Laureate, chemical reactions expert Ahmed Zewail passed away a few days ago at the age of 70. Damanhur-born, Zewail, pioneered the field of femtochemistry in the US, where had pursued most of his career. The chemist and prolific author who had joined the UN’s Scientific Advisory Board in 2013 has provided a lot for which the country and the world can be incredibly proud.

Mohamed Khan (26 July, 2016) 

Egyptian film director, screenwriter, and actor Mohamed Khan is perhaps most known for reinventing Egyptian cinematic documentation with great attention to everyday details and aspects of Cairo. Movies that will forever remain stamped in our memories such as Maw3ed el 3ashaa, Ta2er 3ala al Tareeq, Ayyam el Saddat and others are only small parts of the legacy by which we shall remember the cinematic great.

Tareq Selim (16 July, 2016) 

Celebrated Ahly footballer Tareq Selim, who started playing with Egypt’s national team in 1956, passed away about a month ago. The Ahly icon had helped the Egyptian Pharaohs team in acquiring the title in the 1956 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Mohamed Hassanein Haikal (17 February, 2016)

Kidney failure robbed Egypt of Mohamed Hassanein Haikal, a world-renowned Egyptian journalist and historian who was one of President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s trustees and an informal adviser to current president Abdel Fattah el Sisi. At the age of 92, Haikal, who under Nasser served at the editor-in-chief of state newspaper Al-Ahram, had written 40 books on politically controversial and sensitive topics throughout his life. 

Boutrous Boutrous Ghaly (16 February 2016)

Egyptian politician and diplomat, Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali served as the United Nations Secretary-General from 1992 through 1996 and was also the Vice Foreign Minister of Egypt at one point. In addition to carrying a PhD degree in International Law from the University of Paris, Ghali was also a Fullbright Research Scholar and Director of the Center of Research for the Hague Academy of International Law.

Mahmoud Bakr (4 February, 2016) 

Former Olympic Club player who also played on the Egyptian National First Team as a youth and later decided to retire as a sports commentator has made Egyptians cry in laughter with his hilarious football commentating which, at many points, included references that had nothing to do with the sport.

Fayrouz (31 January, 2016) 

Cairo-born Armenian actress Fayrouz took over the silver screen at a mere age of 7, participated in over 10 films with roles as actress, singer, and dancer. Sister of famous entertainer Nelly, Fayrouz retired at an age of only 15 and passed away at an age of 72.

Mamdouh Abdel Alim (6 January, 2016)

Shortly before Fayrouz’s departure, Egypt also witnessed the passing of accomplished Egyptian actor Mamdouh Abdel Alim due to a heart attack while exercising at the gym. The 60-year-old’s first big appearance was in Virgin Paradise (Gannat Al 3azraa2), a television series. The actor then ventured into Egypt’s movie scene such as in The Virgin and the White Hair (El 3azra2 and Sha3r el Abyad).

Gamal Al Ghitany (18 October, 2015) 

Egyptian editor-in-chief of Akhab al Adab (Cultural News) and prolific political and cultural novelist passed away at the age of 70. Ghitani, originally trained in carpet design discovered his talent at an early age, where he got his first short story published at an age of 14. In addition to being a  political commentator, Ghitani was also a journalist and a recipient of the Egyptian National Prize in Literature in 1980. 

Aly Hassanein (12 August, 2015) 

Yet another beloved Egyptian actor passed away in close proximity to the aforementioned ones. The unexpected death of the actor mostly known for his movie Ice Cream fi Gleem has left the hearts of many heavy with grief.