Egyptian journalist and broadcaster Manal Heikal, former head of Egypt Radio’s Arab Voices radio network, died on Thursday night after a dedicated career spanning decades in Arab and Egyptian media.
The deceased’s cousin, writer and critic Dr. Aza Heikal, announced the death through his personal Facebook account, writing: “Survive for God’s sake. My dear cousin, Mrs. Manal Muhammad Heikal, a prominent journalist and president of the Voice of Arab Radio Network, passed away today. May God have mercy on her and may God grant us patience in her departure.”
The cause of death has not yet been officially announced, and a funeral and memorial service is expected to be held in the coming hours and days, with extensive announcements of his death from colleagues and leaders from the National Media Authority and many radio stations.
outstanding career
Manal Heikal graduated from the Department of Radio and Television, Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University in 1985. She started her professional career with training in radio and television during her student days, then worked in the field of television supervision for one and a half years, after which she moved to Egyptian radio and got her professional start with the Sot Al Arab network.
She accepted a position as National Program Director for the Arab Voices Network and rose through the ranks until becoming Chairman of the Regional Radio Network. He then became Chairman of the Voice of the Arabs Network from 2022, becoming one of the most prominent radio leaders contributing to the development of Arab media discourse.
She has published and directed many prominent programs including Space for Dialogue, News Panorama, Political Encyclopedia, Bayt Al Arab, Arab World Magazine, and Economic Forum. Her name was also associated with cultural and national programs such as “Daughters of My Ideas”, which covered cultural and artistic events in Egypt and the Arab world.
National media obituaries
Meanwhile, the National Media Authority mourned the deceased with deep sadness and praised her endowed career and outstanding professional media. National media said: We have lost a prominent media figure who, through his chairmanship of local radio stations and Arab Voices, provided ideas and vision that contributed to the development of enlightening and educational radio programs and the provision of content. May God have mercy on the esteemed broadcaster and we extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to her family and all colleagues at the National Media Authority and pray to Almighty God for her. With forgiveness and mercy, and may he rest in peace.
Holy Quran Radio Top Obituary
Many media personnel and institutions also mourned her death, including Ismail Dwidar, head of the Holy Quran Radio Network.
“We belong to God and to Him we will return. As if she had come to see us for the last time a few days ago, and her speech was a farewell speech. Dear creative and sophisticated sister, Voice of the Arabs,” Dwidal wrote on her personal page on the social networking site. May God have mercy on you, Radio Director Manal Heikal. May God choose you in the days of mercy and forgiveness. I ask you to pray for her with mercy and forgiveness and recite al-Fatiha for her pure soul.”
