Murder trial of Ex-Minister's son sparks public reaction in Egypt

Al Bawaba

24-05-2025

ALBAWABA - Former Egyptian Immigration Minister Nabila Makram Ebeid's remarks on her son, who is now on trial for murder in the United States, have generated a lot of interest and strong feelings on social media.
Ebeid spoke openly about her son Rami, who is facing charges for fatally stabbing two people in California, during a broadcast interview with presenter Reham El Sahly on the platform "DMC Plus". On April 19, 2022, Rami reportedly stabbed his roommate and another person in their shared flat in this incident. Rami was discovered wounded before being sent to the hospital, and the murder weapon was located at the site.
The former minister said in the interview that her son had authored a book called "99," which was named after his California prison number. She said that the book, which contains 99 inspirational sayings derived from his own experiences behind bars, is meant to provide young people with direction and inspiration. The book is being prepared for public distribution by an Egyptian publishing business.
Ebeid spoke about her attempts to keep in touch with her son while he was imprisoned, including teaching him Arabic virtually using famous Naguib Mahfouz books like "Thebes at War," "Fate's Jest," and "Children of the Alley." Noting that he had read more than 70 English-language novels while confined, she commended his intellectual curiosity.
"رامي ألف كتاب من 99 مقولة" نبيلة مكرم تكشف عن نصائح ابنها للشباب من داخل محبسه في أمريكاhttps://t.co/fDt8RIxcQo pic.twitter.com/HntaeCBEEu — الأقباط اليوم (@coptstoday) May 24, 2025
Speaking candidly about her son's mental health, the former minister said that he was given a schizophrenia diagnosis in 2021, a diagnosis she was not aware of at the time. She started an organization called "Fahim" to remove taboos and increase awareness about mental health in Egypt in response to his hardships and the societal stigma associated with mental illness.
Born in the United States and employed by an American corporation before the event, Rami is now facing severe legal repercussions. His mother's public statements, which struck a balance between emotional introspection, support for mental health, and ongoing maternal care, have generated a lot of compassion and discussion on the internet.
While the case is still pending in U.S. courts, it has rekindled conversations about family responsibility, mental health, and the difficulties experienced by prominent personalities dealing with personal issues in Egypt.