In a heartfelt gesture, Egypt’s First Lady Entissar El Sisi offered a deeply personal tribute to one of the young police officers hailed for bravery during this week’s fire at the Ramses Central in downtown Cairo.
El Sisi placed a personal phone call to the mother of First Lieutenant Nour Imtiaz Kamel, one of the frontline officers credited with helping contain the potentially catastrophic blaze. The fire, which erupted early Tuesday, sent plumes of smoke above the capital and sparked fears of a wider communications outage.
In her conversation, El Sisi extended both her gratitude and the country’s admiration. “I thanked her for the bravery and devotion shown by her son and his fellow officers,” the First Lady said in a public statement. “I told her how proud I am — and how proud all Egyptians are — of our loyal sons in the police force, who carry the weight of our safety with unwavering resolve.”
In a nation where acts of heroism by security forces are often noted but rarely acknowledged at the highest levels of civilian leadership, the First Lady’s direct outreach was seen as a significant moment — not only of recognition, but of national unity.
Photos and video from the fire scene showed officers and firefighters scrambling to secure the perimeter and ensure the safety of nearby residents. A preliminary reports suggest a short circuit may have triggered the blaze in the decades-old facility.
El Sisi’s remarks went beyond protocol. Her tribute carried the tone of a mother speaking to another — one who understood the weight of sending a child into danger in service of the country.
“I salute every one of them with respect and appreciation,” she said. “And I pray that God will protect Egypt through the hands and hearts of her faithful sons.”. Her statement draws messages of solidarity.
