Social media activists circulated news of the death of an Egyptian researcher named Reem Hamed in France under mysterious circumstances, just hours after she made distress calls through her personal Facebook account.
Activists shared the news under the hashtag “Reem Hamed was killed,” stating that “Egyptian PhD student Reem Hamed was killed while studying in France, amid controversy surrounding the truth of her death and the cause of her demise.” Reem Hamed passed away on the evening of Saturday, August 24, 2024, in the French capital, Paris, where she was conducting her doctoral research.
Before her death, Reem wrote on her official Facebook account that she had “been spied on and monitored.” She stated before her disappearance, “I, Reem Hamed, a PhD student in France, urgently need to report to the concerned authorities in Egypt because I am under surveillance, my devices are hacked, and I am being forced into silence. By continuing to work under these conditions, I am unwillingly complicit in their crimes, accepting their espionage and the use of political directives within my work environment and university residence to spy on me. I refuse to work under these circumstances. I am under pressure, monitored, and recently my life has been threatened. The person behind this is the head of the unit where I work.”
Several activists claimed a “connection between Reem Hamed’s posts and her death,” asserting that “her refusal to cooperate with the entity she mentioned in her posts was the reason behind her killing, although she did not specify any names.”
One follower commented, “A PhD student in France died or was killed, and posts on her social media accounts were deleted afterward. The posts accused an unidentified entity of constantly monitoring and threatening her. According to her account, her appeals to the French police were deliberately ignored.”
A user on “X” (formerly Twitter) wrote, “The series of assassinations continues and won’t stop… The assassination of researchers and scientists—neither their home country values their knowledge and skills, nor does a foreign land protect their lives if they sense they aren’t cooperating. Reem Hamed, a PhD student, meets the same fate as Dr. Samira Moussa.”
Another account posted, “Heartfelt condolences on the passing of researcher Reem Hamed. She was conducting her PhD research at Paris-Saclay University. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of her death, and her family has urged the public not to share any details or news that might harm the ongoing investigations. May she rest in peace, and may her family find patience and solace.”
The “Arab Scientific Forum” mourned its member Reem Hamed, stating: “Reem Hamed passed away in France on Saturday. May God grant her eternal peace and give her family and loved ones the strength to endure this loss.”
According to the Arab Scientific Forum (SAF), Reem Hamed was an Egyptian researcher pursuing her PhD at the Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell at Paris-Saclay University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Cairo University and her master’s degree in genomics and epigenetics from the University of Paris.
No official statement has been issued regarding the incident so far
