Egyptian Intelligence Mourns Samir Iskandrani

Egyptian newspapers quoted a statement attributed to the Egyptian Intelligence, on Saturday, in which they mourn Samir Iskandarani's death on Thursday, after a struggle with illness.

They said in a statement, which was published by the websites of Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Youm Al-Sabe, and Al-Watan newspapers: "We belong to God and to Him we shall return .. Egyptian General Intelligence mourns with more sadness and sorrow the artist Samir Iskandarani."

They added that " Iskadrani provided great services to his country that made him a unique model in combining the purposeful art with which the Egyptians knew him, and heroism and sacrifice for the sake of the homeland."

Samir Al-Iskandrani was famous for performing patriotic songs such as "Oh Lord Baladi and Habibi", as well as passionate songs bearing a folkloric character such as "Ya Nakhlatin Fi Al Alali" and "Oh, oh Jamil Yalli forget me."

Al-Iskandrani was born in the historic Al-Ghouria neighborhood in Cairo in 1938 and grew up in an artistic family and his father was friends with a number of great poets and composers such as Zakaria Ahmed, Bayram Al-Tunisi, and Ahmed Rami.