Heikal's letter of condolence to Julianne Salama, widow of Salama
By Mohamed Hassanein Heikal
I called you on the telephone from France as soon as I heard of the death of my lifelong friend, Salama Ahmed Salama. And although you were kind enough to tell me about the last days and hours of my dear friend's life, I still find it hard to believe that Salama is no longer with us, that he has travelled into another world, finally joining the long list of men whose knowledge and strength were a mark of glory to this country.
I know that the crisis our country is going through had taken its toll on Salama, a man of delicate sensitivities and one who remained true to himself and his readers to the end.
In our last meeting, a few days ago in Cairo, your late husband told me that the pressure of the crisis was one of the reasons for the deterioration in his health. But I didn't imagine for a moment that this was to be our last meeting, or that I was saying farewell to a man and an era. It was my wish that he would live long enough to feel reassured about the future of our country and that of the career we have followed and everything we held dear.
Allow me to repeat what I told you on the phone from Paris, which is that my heart goes out to you and that I am saddened by the loss of my friend and your husband. I knew Salama for over 50 years and I loved and trusted him as a colleague and a kindred soul.
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