Egyptian killed in London takes center stage in local media

The recent death of an Egyptian citizen in London dominated local newspapers on Thursday, with dramatic headlines expressing anger and forcing a comparison with slain Italian student Giulio Regeni, who was murdered in Egypt early this year. 

Sherif Habib, a recent graduate of London’s University of Greenwich, was rescued from a fire in Southall by the London Fire Brigade on Sunday. He later died in an Essex hospital’s burns unit.

A post-mortem examination on Wednesday determined that the initial cause of death was severe burns, according to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police.

“At this stage in the investigation, Mr. Habib's death is being treated as unexplained, and inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances,” the statement read.

A 20-year-old was briefly detained and later released on bail on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in relation to Habib’s death, said a Metropolitan Police statement that was published by the British Embassy in Cairo.

The privately owned Al-Watan newspaper ran a front-page headline in bold red letters reading, “Sherif is similar to Regeni,” above an interview with members of Habib’s family. While Habib’s father demanded retribution for his son, his uncle claimed Habib was stabbed before he was killed by the fire.

Al-Watan also quoted Habib’s cousin, who demanded justice and likened the case to that of Regeni, “who instigated international outrage demanding an investigation into his death.”

The privately owned Youm7 newspaper ran a similar headline on its front page: “Cairo rises up for Habib, Egyptian killed in London.” The article detailed the Egyptian government’s efforts to speed up the investigations and uncover the truth about Habib’s death. The report also said that the prosecutor general has formed a team to investigate the incident, and that Parliament sent a delegation to London to follow the investigations.

On the privately owned newspaper Al-Wafd’s front page, a headline read, “Anger over the murder of an Egyptian in London,” above another interview with Habib’s father, who explained that the circumstances surrounding his son’s murder remain unknown.   

In a statement late Tuesday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi requested that the UK government promptly investigate the circumstances of Habib’s death.

The Foreign Ministry also issued a statement saying that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has instructed the Egyptian Consulate General in London to inform UK authorities that the Egyptian government expects “an urgent, transparent and impartial investigation into the incident that reveals its causes, and holds those responsible accountable in the fastest time possible.”