In recent days, a series of images showing a bulldozer, a demolished dome, and rubble amid graves in Cairo have triggered widespread anger on social media. The scenes document the destruction of a historic burial site linked to the Ottoman viceroy, Muhammad Ali Pasha, as part of a larger government plan to expand roads connecting central Cairo and its older districts to newer areas in the east. This controversial development has raised concerns regarding the preservation of Egypt's cultural heritage.
The most recent demolition, targeting a tomb and dome associated with Muhammad Ali's consort and mother to his son, Muhammad Halim Pasha, has particularly fueled discontent. Photographer Mohamed Abdelmalek captured the damaging acts, sharing his distressing experience online. Many worry about which historic structures might be next as they witness portions of Egyptian history crumble away.
In response to an ongoing project initiated three years ago by Cairo’s governorate, approximately 2,700 graves have been marked for removal to facilitate urban development. This has led many families to relocate their ancestors' remains to newer, remote cemeteries outside the city's bustling heart. However, critics argue that such actions erode the historical tapestry of Cairo, home to the remains of many notable figures from the past two centuries, including members of Muhammad Ali Pasha's lineage.
Despite UNESCO and heritage advocacy groups opposing the plan, citing the adverse impact on Old Cairo's rich historic fabric, Egyptian authorities insist that these measures are essential to alleviate the city's congestion. Officials, including Dr. Magdy Shaker from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, have defended the demolitions, stating that many of the affected sites were not officially registered as antiquities. Nevertheless, this reasoning has not pacified critics who highlight the architectural and cultural value these structures represent.
With UNESCO having previously warned that neglect of Cairo's historic cemetery district could lead to its removal from the World Heritage List, concern grows. Evidently, this ongoing debate underscores the tension between development needs and heritage preservation within one of the world’s oldest cities.
Adding to the outcry, Egyptian MP Abdel Moneim Imam has submitted a formal inquiry to Parliament demanding accountability over the decision to demolish the dome. He emphasizes that such actions threaten Egypt’s cultural legacy and calls for clarity on heritage protection protocols before any further demolition is allowed. Whether this inquiry will prompt a substantive discussion in Parliament remains to be seen, reflecting the ongoing struggle over Cairo's historical legacy.
