For the past four years, Cairo’s historic cemeteries have faced systematic waves of destruction, carried out in successive stages. These demolition activities are temporarily suspended when public outrage escalates, driven by widespread shock at the sight of bulldozers tearing down stones over a thousand years old and violently crushing the bones of the deceased, with no regard for history, human decency, or religious sanctity.

The sight of bulldozers attacking these sacred heritage sites—revered by Egyptians of all backgrounds and affiliations—spreading ruin and devastation, evokes profound sorrow, as if witnessing a battlefield.

The harrowing scenes we have documented show unique domes collapsing in moments, gravestones inscribed with Quranic verses, sayings, and poetry scattered on the ground amid rubble and tree trunks stretching as far as the eye can see. These cemeteries, which once served as the final resting places of our ancestors and stood elegantly, will remain in the collective memory of future generations as a grim reminder of an era in which some destroyed a heritage preserved by both natives and conquerors alike for centuries.

Over the past few years, dozens of cemeteries with architectural and historical significance have been demolished. These cemeteries are part of a cohesive fabric that has retained its distinctive identity for the past two centuries. In the face of growing public outrage over the loss of this unique Egyptian heritage and to prevent the erasure of crucial periods of Egypt’s funerary architecture and the memory of notable figures buried within these historic cemeteries, a tactical pause is now being implemented, as seen in previous instances. However, this pause comes without any justification for the widespread destruction that has affected key cemeteries, particularly those listed by the National Organization for Urban Harmony last year. This raises questions about the true motive behind this deliberate targeting and persistence, and why half of the registered cemeteries have been removed from the organization’s list in preparation for their demolition.

This assault on Cairo’s historic cemeteries lacks any logical justification, especially given the existence of viable alternatives to demolition proposed by a committee formed by the Cabinet in 2003, comprised of urban planning and heritage conservation experts and headed by the Minister of Higher Education. The committee conducted a feasibility study on the government’s proposed roads and bridges project, initiated in 2020, and found it to be unfeasible as it saves only two minutes of travel time. The committee presented an alternative plan based on utilizing the existing and newly developed road network without impacting the historic cemeteries.

The committee confirmed that its proposal for resolving traffic issues would remain effective for the next ten years, and it even provided a vision for leveraging the site for religious and cultural tourism by creating pathways and addressing the issue of rising groundwater levels, among other considerations.

At a time when Egypt is seeking to nominate a candidate for the leadership of UNESCO, the world’s largest organization dedicated to culture and heritage, it must first demonstrate to the world its commitment to preserving its own heritage.

Therefore, we demand the following:

1. The reinstatement of the previously established committee to begin implementing its proposed and approved project, taking into account the unfortunate changes that occurred last year.

2. The cancellation of the current road project and its replacement with the alternative plan proposed by the committee.

3. The abandonment of the proposed demolition of Cairo’s historic cemeteries within the framework of the Cairo Strategic Plan.

4. The reinstatement of the delisted cemeteries, which have not yet been demolished, to the National Organization for Urban Harmony’s list.

5. The reinstallation of the four minarets dismantled in the Sayyuti cemetery, namely:

Al-Ghouri Minaret

Al-Masih Pasha Minaret

Al-Sultaniyya Minaret

Qusun Al-Saqi Minaret

6. The prevention of theft of valuable architectural elements from historic cemeteries and the imposition of maximum penalties on traffickers of unique gravestones and structures of all kinds.

We, the undersigned organizations, associations, and individuals, call upon all honorable citizens to stand against this crime targeting a cherished and sacred part of our cultural heritage and demand a complete halt to the demolition of Cairo’s historic cemeteries.

Signatories:

Organizations and Entities:

Initiative to Save Cairo’s Historic Cemeteries

Egyptian Socialist Party

Popular Socialist Alliance Party

Al-Dostour Party

Egyptian Social Democratic Party

Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights

Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights

Bayt Fatim Foundation for Development and Culture

Public Figures and Individuals:

1. Ibtihal Younes, University Professor

2. Ibrahim Al-Madani, Architect

3. Ibrahim Tayea, Notary and Historian of Cemeteries

4. Abiya Al-Banhawi, Egyptian Citizen

5. Ahmed Ibrahim, Egyptian Citizen

6. Ahmed Adham, Assistant Teacher and PhD Researcher at the School of Architecture, University of Portsmouth, England

7. Ahmed El-Gamal, Tour Guide

8. Ahmed El-Khamisi, Journalist

9. Ahmed Al-Sabroot, Architect and Egyptian Citizen

10. Ahmed Ayman, Agricultural Engineer and Archaeological Notary

11. Ahmed Bahaa El-Din Shaaban, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Socialist Party

12. Ahmed Gomaa Saad, Egyptian Citizen

13. Ahmed Hashish, Egyptian Citizen

14. Ahmed Khadr, Accountan

15. Ahmed Desouki, Architect

16. Ahmed Rashid, Loading and Unloading Worker

17. Ahmed Shehata, Writer and Accountant

18. Ahmed Ashour Ahmed Ameen, Interior Designer

19. Ahmed Abdel-Gawad, Architect

20. Ahmed Abdel-Wadood, Egyptian Citizen

21. Ahmed Ezzat, Lawyer and Academic

22. Ahmed Farag Mahmoud, Architect

23. Ahmed Fawzy, Cassation Lawyer

24. Ahmed Karim, Egyptian Citizen

25. Ahmed Magdy, Egyptian Citizen

26. Ahmed Mohamed Adel, Civil Engineer

27. Ahmed Mahmoud Ibrahim El-Eissawy, Egyptian Architect

28. Ahmed Mokhtar Abdel-Rahim, Urology Consultant – Assiut University

29. Ahmed Mosaad El-Naggar, Architect

30. Ahmed Mostafa, Egyptian Citizen

31. Ahmed Hani El-Muhailmi, Egyptian Citizen

32. Ahmed Yahya, Architect

33. Ahmed Yousri, Professor of Urban Planning at the Regional and Urban Planning School, Cairo University

34. Osama Amer Mohy El-Din, Archaeological Inspector

35. Israa Hamid, Architect

36. Israa Salim, Dentist

37. Israa Ali Ghazi, Egyptian Citizen

38. Israa Karim, Citizen

39. Islam Ismail, Doctor and Lecturer at the University of Cairo

40. Islam Ali Abu Akasha, Lawyer

41. Islam Emad Abdel-Tawab, PhD in Islamic Tourism Guidance

42. Asmaa El-Degwi, Designer

43. Asmaa Hatem Maysara, Digital Marketer

44. Asmaa Zidan, Journalist

45. Asmaa Shukri, Egyptian Journalist

46. Asmaa Mahmoud, Industrial Designer

47. Asmaa Mostafa, Dentist

48. Ismail Abbas Taha, Architectural Consultant

49. Ashraf Aslan, Journalist

50. Ashraf Jaafar, Professor of Architecture and Digital Design at the Faculty of Engineering, Shubra – Benha University

51. Ashraf Jaafar, Professor of Architecture and Digital Design at the Faculty of Engineering, Shubra – Benha University

52. Esalah Gad, University Professor

53. Iqbal Al-Zarqani, Egyptian Citizen

54. Akram Ismail, Engineer

55. Akram Youssef, Teacher of Architecture and Urban Planning – Minya University

56. Alaa Tharwat, Egyptian Citizen

57. Ilham Eidaros, Translator

58. Ilhamy Al-Mirghani, Economic Researcher

59. Amal Abdou, Professor of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University

60. Amani Al-Qassas, Journalist

61. Amal Ali El-Din, Egyptian Citizen

62. Amina Shawkat, Painter

63. Omnia Ahmed, Citizen

64. Omnia Khalil, University Doctor

65. Omnia Abdel-Bar, Architect

66. Omnia Wahdan, English Teacher at Al-Azhar

67. Omnia Afifi, Architect

68. Ameera Ahmed Hassan, Clinical Pharmacist

69. Ameera Lashin, Egyptian Citizen

70. Ameera Yahya, Egyptian Citizen

71. Omaima Khalil, Egyptian Citizen

72. Omaima Amer, Egyptian Citizen

73. Omaima Emad El-Din, Researcher

74. Omaima Khalil, Egyptian Citizen

75. Omaima Ali, Egyptian Citizen

76. Amina Al-Nakach, Journalist

77. Amina Farouk Abdel-Moneim, General Director at the Ministry of Antiquities

78. Engy Mahmoud, Egyptian Citizen

79. Engy Abdel Aziz, Egyptian Citizen

80. Ansi Abu Saif, Film Set Designer

81. Ansi Abu Saif, Film Set Designer

82. Antonios Osama, Architect

83. Ayat Abdel-Daem, Egyptian Citizen

84. Aya Al-Jarbi, Visual Artist

85. Aya Khaled, Student at BIS

86. Aya Abdel-Moneim, Egyptian Citizen

87. Aya Alam El-Din, Architect

88. Aya Mahmoud, Egyptian Citizen

89. Evelyn Ashmalla Iskandar, Painter

90. Iman Al-Banna, PhD in Psychology, Egyptian Citizen

91. Iman Al-Qusini, Egyptian Citizen

92. Iman Khairi, Psychologist

93. Iman Ramadan, Interior Designer

94. Iman Saeed, Librarian

95. Iman Talat, Consulting Architect in Urban Design with a Master’s in Urban Planning

96. Iman Essam, Translator

97. Iman Mohamed Salah, Architect

98. Ayman Halim, Architect

99. Inas Ismail, Egyptian Citizen

100. Inas Al-Jazar, Architect

101. Inas Al-Qadi, Egyptian Citizen

102. Inas Saber Abdel, Egyptian Citizen

103. Inas Omar, Egyptian Citizen and Architect

104. Aya Abdel-Rahman Hassan, Architect

105. Aya Fathy, Lawyer

106. Ihab Fouad Mounir, Architect

107. Ihab Mohamed Suleiman, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics

108. Baher Al-Jirsi, University Teacher in Britain

109. Baher Diaa El-Din Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Citizen

110. Bostan Ibrahim, Translator of Matty

111. Basma Al-Husseini, Cultural Director

112. Basma Al-Husseini, Cultural Director

113. Basma Al-Sheikh, Egyptian

114. Basma Abdel Rahman, Doctor

115. Basant Assem, Egyptian Citizen

116. Bahaa Fathy El-Sayed, Lawyer

117. Bahaa Mohamed Shaier, Egyptian Citizen

118. Bola Aboud, Engineer

119. Pierre, Egyptian Citizen

120. Tamer El-Feky, Egyptian Doctor

121. Tamer Hassan Sahab, Architect

122. Taghreed Saleh, Architect

123. Taqi Samah, Egyptian Citizen

124. Taysir Khairy, Architect and Urban Planner

125. Tharwat Al-Bahr, Artist

126. Jalal Abada, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University

127. Jalal Abdul-Qawy, Accounts Manager

128. Jamal Amer, Architect

129. Jamal Fahmy, Journalist

130. Janna Adel, Egyptian Citizen

131. Jihad Badawy, Chemist

132. Jihad Kamal, Egyptian Citizen

133. Jihad Mohamed, Student

134. Jihad Nasir, Consulting Engineer

135. Hatem Wajeeh, Egyptian Architect

136. Hazem Selim, Architect

137. Hamad Mohamed Hamad, Pharmacist

138. Hamad Nihad Osman Saad, Ambassador

139. Hossam Bakr, Professor of Architecture at the British University

140. Hossam Habashi, Architect

141. Hossam Zidan, Journalist

142. Hassan Hafiz, PhD Researcher in Islamic Egypt History and Egyptian Journalist

143. Hassan Ali Hassan, Lawyer

144. Hassan Eissa, Director

145. Hasnaa Abdel Rahman, Engineer

146. Hussein Abdel-Ghaffar, Retired Engineer

147. Hafsa Al-Sharqawi, Urban Planning Engineer

148. Hamada Zidan, Founder of Majrayah for Training and Cultural Development

149. Hamad Saad Ateq, Doctor

150. Hamdy Adel, Pharmacist, Egyptian Citizen

151. Hanan Hegazy, Journalist

152. Hanan Mabrouk, Egyptian Citizen

153. Khaled El-Balshi, Head of the Journalists’ Syndicate

154. Khaled Salah Hijab, Muslim Egyptian

155. Khaled Tarek Kilani, Appellate Lawyer

156. Khaled Ali, Cassation Lawyer and Former Presidential Candidate

157. Khaled Mansour, Writer and Journalist

158. Khaloud Salah, Visual Artist

159. Dr. Adel Bishay, Professor of Economics – American University in Cairo

160. Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Ghaffar, Member of the United Nations Association of Egypt, and member of the Egyptian Society for Political Economy and Statistics

161. Dr. Mansour Suleiman, Pediatric Consultant for Newborns

162. Dr. Zahour Al-Jafri, Doctor

163. Dr. Afaf Badran, Architect and Consultant, Founder of the Darb Al-Labana Center and Group

164. Dr. Alaa Yassin, Professor of Urban Preservation and Conservation, Faculty of Urban Planning – Cairo University

165. Dr. Magid Mohamed Sami Zaghou, Assistant Professor and Director of the Digital Architecture Program at Galala University

166. Dr. Mohamed Al-Beltagui, Doctor Engineer and Consultant, Egyptian Citizen

167. Dr. Mohamed Maher Sharif – Expert in Restoration and Cultural Heritage Site Management

168. Dr. Mai Atiyah Gamal El-Din – Consultant in Educational Systems and Governance

169. Dr. Nariman Saad Youssef – Former Diplomat

170. Dr. Hala Ghanem – Assistant Professor of Art History and Heritage Conservation at Dresden University, Germany

171. Dr. Ahmed Abu Al-Qasim – Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Writer

172. Dr. Abir Mahmoud El-Tantawy – Tour Guide and PhD Holder

173. Dr. Amr Al-Shobky – Researcher and Former Parliamentarian

174. Dalia Ahmed Taha – Inspector of Antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

175. Dalia El-Segini – Academic and Photographer

176. Dalia El-Sharkawy – Professor of Applied Arts

177. Dalia Shams – Journalist

178. Dalia Mostafa Mantoor – Architect

179. Doaa Talima – Pharmacist

180. Doaa Ramadan – Egyptian Citizen

181. Doaa Sami Ramadan – Egyptian Citizen

182. Dawatif Abdul Rahman – University Professor

183. Dr. Adel Ismail El-Faqi – Professor and Expert in Urban Planning and Architectural Heritage

184. Dr. Murad Abdul Qadir – Professor of Architecture at Ain Shams University

185. Dalal Bahiri – Egyptian Citizen

186. Dalila Al-Kurdani – Professor of Architecture at Cairo University

187. Dina El-Shahed – Egyptian Citizen

188. Dina El-Masri – Egyptian Citizen and Visual Artist

189. Dina Alaa – Administrative Manager

190. Dina Moharram – Tour Guide

191. Dina Mostafa – Doctor

192. Ragia Said – Egyptian Citizen

193. Ramez Azmy – Architectural Consultant

194. Rami Waseem – Engineer

195. Rania El-Gamal – Egyptian Citizen

196. Rawya Kershah – Egyptian Citizen

197. Rabab Ali – Urban Planning Engineer

198. Regina Abdul-Sayed – Medical Student

199. Rehab Rafat – Head of Decoration Department at Egyptian TV, Maspero

200. Rehab Mohi – Translator

201. Rahma Rabi – Specialist in Architectural Restoration and Project Coordinator

202. Rahma Walid – Egyptian Artist

203. Rasha Hussein – Egyptian Citizen

204. Rasha Amer – Egyptian Citizen

205. Radwa Ashraf – Architect

206. Ra’uf Mohamed – Financial Manager and Egyptian Citizen

207. Ramadan Hosny – Computer Engineer

208. Rana El-Tounsi – Egyptian Writer

209. Rana El-Nemr – Visual Artist

210. Rana Imam – Designer

211. Rana Samir – Writer

212. Rawnah Mahmoud Abdel-Nabi – Egyptian Citizen

213. Ru’aa Ibrahim Gharib – Egyptian Citizen

214. Rejan Nash’at – Researcher in Islamic History and Archaeology

215. Reem Abu Zahra – Lawyer

216. Reem Hijab – Actress and Director

217. Reem Rashad – Housewife

218. Reem Saad – Anthropological Researcher

219. Reem Waseem – Historian

220. Riham El-Masri – Egyptian Citizen

221. Zahdi Al-Shami – Economic Researcher

222. Zaid Issam Al-Kawaz – Preservation Architect

223. Zainab Talaat – Egyptian Citizen

224. Zainab Mohamed Ibrahim Kurkhan – Egyptian Citizen

225. Sara Abu Al-Makarem – Urban Planning Engineer

226. Sara Osama – Marketer

227. Sara Ismail – Egyptian Student

228. Sara Hazem – Journalist

229. Sara Hamdy – Researcher and Visual Artist

230. Sara Rafat – Affected Citizen

231. Sara Sidrak – Egyptian Citizen

232. Sara Rabi – Antiquities Inspector

233. Sara Yousri – Teacher at Al-Azhar

234. Sally El-Khodari – Environmental Activist

235. Sally Gomaa – Teacher at the Faculty of Arts – Cairo University

236. Sameh Al-Alailli – Emeritus Professor of Urban Development

237. Sameh Al-Ghamri – Accountant

238. Sameh Saad – Egyptian Citizen

239. Samia El-Sayed – Teacher

240. Samia Amin – Egyptian Citizen

241. Samia Rizq – Egyptian Citizen

242. Saad Zaghloul – Egyptian Citizen

243. Salma Mubarak – University Professor

244. Salma Abdel-Ghani – Egyptian Citizen

245. Salwa Farouk – Architect

246. Suleiman Shafik – Journalist Researcher

247. Samah Hamed – Egyptian Citizen and Tourism Guidance Student

248. Samar Ali Sabahi – Architect

249. Samar Fayez Tawfiq – Architect

250. Samar Nour – Writer

251. Sameeha Fadel – Egyptian Citizen

252. Sundus Abdul Rahman Ahmed

253. Sonia El-Faqi – Journalist and Researcher

254. Sonia Fathy Ali – PhD Researcher in Islamic Antiquities

255. Suha Al-Naqqash – Media Personality

256. Suhair Hassan – Egyptian Citizen

257. Suhair Riyad – Researcher

258. Suhair Sabry – Translator and Writer

259. Susan Kamal El-Din Salem Suleiman – PhD in Applied Arts, General Authority for Printing Presses

260. Susan Nagy Arabi – Business Management at Labor University, Egyptian Citizen

261. Susan Nada – Lawyer

262. Susan Amro – Architect

263. Al-Sayed Al-Badri – Student

264. Al-Sayed Adel Abdel-Aziz – Journalist, Member of the Journalists’ Syndicate

265. Al-Sayed Abdul-Qadir Al-Sayed – Supervisor at Al-Azhar

266. Sylvia Ya’qub – Egyptian Citizen

267. Shalimar Mahsoub – Doctor

268. Shahinaz Adel – Lawyer

269. Sharaf Saad – Egyptian Citizen

270. Shorouk Mohamed – Student

271. Sharif Ramadan – Egyptian

272. Sharif Tamoum – Egyptian Engineer

273. Sharif Ayad – Civil Engineer

274. Sharif Hashem – Master’s Researcher in Islamic Civilization

275. Sherin Ihsan Salah El-Din – Journalist and Member of the Journalists’ Syndicate

276. Shahab Tarek Hafiz – Journalist

277. Shahd Mohamed – Egyptian Citizen

278. Shufieh Al-Kurdi – Accountant (Pension)

279. Sherin Khalil – Community Medicine Specialist

280. Sherin Fawzi Abu Al-Wafa – Pharmacist

281. Shaima El-Sharkawy – Egyptian Citizen

282. Shaima Hamza – Architect

283. Shaima Said – Egyptian Citizen

284. Shaima Abdul-Hafiz – Egyptian Citizen

285. Shaima Izz Al-Din Khattab – Medical Doctor

286. Shaima Mohamed – Egyptian Citizen

287. Shaima Matar – Museum Keeper

288. Shaima Younis Habib – Clinical Pharmacist

289. Saleh Saad Mamoun – Egyptian Citizen

290. Sabah Salem – Visual Artist

291. Sakhr Al-Hawari Ahmed – Commercial and Legal Consultant

292. Sadiq Al-Qasir – Researcher

293. Safaa Al-Sweifi – Accountant

294. Salah Abu Al-Lail – Architect

295. Salah Abu Nar – Researcher and Translator

296. Salah Al-Samman – Lawyer

297. Dhi Rahmi – Translator

298. Tarek Abu Zikri – Architectural Consultant

299. Tarek Hussein – Egyptian Engineer

300. Tarek Khatir – Lawyer

301. Tarek Said – Architect

302. Tarek Kamal El-Din – Egyptian Citizen

303. Taher Kamal Abdo – Doctor

304. Talaat Shaheen – Egyptian Citizen

305. Tony Slaib – Accountant

306. Adel Sultan – Factory Manager

307. Adel Yes – Professor at Ain Shams University, specializing in Islamic Architecture

308. Alya Qassem – Graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University

309. Aida Seif El-Dawla – Retired University Professor

310. Abdel Hamid Sharaf – Specialist in Restoration

311. Abdel Hamid Qassem – Egyptian Citizen

312. Abdel Aziz Al-Gizi – Egyptian Citizen

313. Abdel Moneim Imam – Member of the House of Representatives

314. Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Gharib Mohamed – Mechanical Engineer

315. Abdul Rahman Tharwat – Urban Planning Engineer

316. Abdul Rahman Izz Al-Din Imam – Egyptian Citizen

317. Abdul Rahman Moharram – University Student

318. Abdul Rahman Mohamed Zahab – Architect

319. Abdul Rahman Mustafa – Journalist and Media Personality, Owner of Media and Social Media Outlets

320. Abdul Fattah El-Banna – Professor of Archaeological Restoration

321. Abdul Fattah Farag – [Information Missing]

322. Abdullah Ashraf – Data Analyst

323. Abdullah Al-Senawi – Journalist

324. Abla El-Rouini – Writer

325. Abir Zaki Abdel-Tawab – Egyptian Poet

326. Abir Abbas – Egyptian Citizen

327. Abir Qamarah – Senior History Teacher in Education

328. Abir Mohamed – Egyptian Citizen

329. Arab Lotfi – Film Director

330. Arabi Kamal – Writer

331. Azza Ibrahim – Journalist

332. Azza Suleiman – Lawyer

333. Azza Suleiman – Cassation Lawyer

334. Azza Shaaban – Egyptian Citizen

335. Azza Taher Matar – Egyptian Citizen