Epilogue

The exploits of the militant Islamic groups in Egypt are escalating. A week does not pass without acts of terrorism against the government, the security forces, intellectuals, journalists who oppose religious extremism, ministers, former ministers and others. Even the Prime Minister, Atif Sidqi, was miraculously unharmed by a car bomb set by Islamic terrorists in November 1993 which exploded when his entourage passed through Heliopolis near Cairo. In the past few years there have been attempted assassinations of six current or former Interior Ministers and a senior journalist, Makram Muhammad Ahmad. In October 1990, Rif'at al-Mahjub, Chairman of the Egyptian Parliament, was murdered. In June 1992, the renowned intellectual, Faraj Fuda, was murdered. In May 1993, an attempt was made on the life of the Communications Minister, Safwat al-Sharif. Attacks have been made on dozens of senior police officers and hundreds of policemen, who represent the ruling regime to the fundamentalists. There have been frequent attacks on Copts and Coptic churches, property and businesses, as well as assaults on tourists to the historic sites of Upper Egypt. Centers of entertainment in the heart of Cairo were attacked, as well as coffee houses and video shops. ¹