Important news that unfolded over the week included the arrest of Egypt’s top wanted militant and former military officer Hisham Al-Ashmawy in Libya.
Commenting on the significance of Al-Ashmawy’s fallout, Al-Ahram’s Makram Mohamed Ahmed wrote that having the mastermind behind major terrorist operations carried out in Egypt captured, will disturb the balance of extremist groups in the region. Ahmed further argued that hunting down the Derna militants group has weakened their strength and ability to mobilise, in addition to the ongoing army operations which aim to destroy the infrastructure of the North Sinai-based groups.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Amin called in the privately-owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper for Al-Ashmawy’s speedy, and public, execution in Tahrir Square. He also went on to describe what a “friend” told him about wanting to cut Al-Ashmawy’s body into pieces like, according to the writer, what used to happen in ancient times. Amin supports his wish to see him dead, despite admitting that he possess valuable information regarding several attacks that occured in Egypt.
In other news, Egypt commentators addressed in Wednesday’s newspapers a massive fire that broke out in a palm plantation on Friday, injuring at least 37 in the New Valley provincial village of el-Rashda.
In the state-owned daily Al-Ahram, Farouk Goweida noted the damages caused by the fire, and the insufficient equipment available in Egypt’s governorates to deal with such incidents. As he called for more fire safety measures, the writer wondered whether the EGP 2m compensation announced by the government would be enough to make up for the damages, especially when it comes to the prices of palm trees.
Similarly, Safaa Nawar in the state-owned newspaper Al-Akhbar, also supported the idea that there should be accountability for the negligence that caused the fire. She also shed light on the inhumane and difficult living circumstances of the governorate residents, whilst simultaneously highlighting the fact that the governorate is rich in resources, handicrafts, and archaeological sites.
Last, but not least, Al-Ahram’s Adel Sabry criticised what he described as the “scandal” of the Karnak Temple in Luxor, where a wedding reception and dinner was held, warning of the damages that could befall the valuable monuments.
