EIPR participated as part of the defence counsel in the lawsuit filed by 62 residents of the Touson area in Alexandria against the President, the Prime Minister, and the Governor of Alexandria. The lawsuit seeks to halt a proposed infrastructure project in Touson, which would entail the direct seizure and appropriation of residents' homes, posing a grave threat to their fundamental right to housing.

The session, held in Circuit 53 of the Alexandria Administrative Court on Sunday, 7 December, was marked by intense security presence. The appellants were represented by lawyers Mohamed Ramadan Abdel Baset and Hamdy Khalaf Ali—defence counsel from EIPR—as part of a legal team consisting of seven lawyers. The team submitted formal requests to the Court to verify the project's necessity and feasibility, given what residents describe as an imminent danger to their property and lives.

The defence counsel argued before the Administrative Court that the challenged decision lacks the character of "public benefit." They argued that the project’s true purpose is commercial and investment-driven—serving private investors—rather than the public interest as declared by the state. The defence submitted five documentation folders containing technical and administrative evidence, including comparative maps from Google Earth, indicating the existence of an established road, which could potentially obviate the need for the project or necessitate the search for less harmful alternatives for the residents.

In this context, the defence requested permission to obtain official copies of the planned project maps and adjacent vacant lands from the Alexandria Survey Directorate. They sought to have this information reviewed by a committee from the Faculty of Engineering at Alexandria University to determine whether the existing road renders the new project unnecessary. Should the project’s necessity be confirmed, the committee would be tasked with identifying vacant land suitable for the project without infringing on residents' rights.

The Court concluded by referring the case to the State Commissioners' Authority to prepare a legal opinion on the subject matter and adjourning. Essentially meaning that the Court dismissed the defence's urgent motion for an interim injunction staying the execution of the project.

EIPR emphasises that denying the urgent motion for an interim order is inexplicable given the imminent concerns raised by Touson residents regarding a real threat to their housing rights. EIPR reaffirms its commitment to supporting the residents' rights to legal protection, transparency, and access to information regarding state projects that directly affect their environment and property.

It is worth noting that the residents of Touson area in East Alexandria are experiencing growing anxiety as the government prepares for the new road. The project threatens to demolish buildings that coulddisplace 6,000 families. Following the issuance of Decree No. 88 in April 2025 by the Governor of Alexandria, inventory committees—including representatives from the Military Engineers Administration—have intensified visits to the site. Despite this, clear information about the future of the residents and the full extent of the planned demolitions remains absent, leaving thousands in a precarious state.