Egypt emigration minister breaks silence about son's double-murder charges in US

Ramy Fahim was charged with two murders in California, where sentencing enhancements would make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted

Nabila Makram said her family is going through a difficult time. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Egypt’s Minister of Emigration Nabila Makram broke her silence on Friday about murder charges against her son in the US.

Ramy Fahim, 26, has been charged with murdering two American men, a co-worker and his roommate, both aged 23.

If convicted, Mr Fahim may face the death penalty, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office on April 22.

“We are going through a difficult time owing to the accusation of my son committing a murder in the United States of America,” Ms Makram wrote on Facebook.

The alleged murders took place on April 19 in the city of Anaheim, California, the home of the country's Disneyland amusement park.

In addition to two counts of murder, Mr Fahim also faces additional sentencing enhancements for lying in wait, multiple murders, and the personal use of a deadly weapon.

The enhancements for lying in wait and committing multiple murders make him eligible for the death penalty in California, the district attorney’s statement said.

A Fox News report the day after the killings said that Mr Fahim was found inside the victims’ flat, and he was conscious but suffering from a minor knife wound.

His car was also found at a nearby garage and security video from the building showed him wandering the halls outside the flat before the murders.

In her Facebook statement, Ms Makram promised that this “ordeal” would not hinder her from performing her role as minister and that she is more than capable of separating her personal life from her ministerial duties.

“Whatever the consequences, as a minister, I take full responsibility for my position and the requirements of working in it, and I make a clear distinction between what is personal and what is public,” Ms Makram said.

She urged the media to exercise accuracy and humanity when reporting on the incident.

“This ordeal befell an Egyptian family that is anxiously awaiting a judicial verdict that is yet to be known and that depends on the conscience of the judge issuing it,” Ms Makram said.