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Egypt’s Culture Minister Orders Halt of Historic Imam Al-Shafi’i Cemetery Demolition

October 27, 2024
Kairo, Mausol. v. Imam Ash-Shafi’i 1211

Egypt’s Minister of Culture, Ahmed Fouad Hano, announced on Sunday, 27 October, that demolition operations at the Imam Al-Shafi’i cemetery have been temporarily halted. The Egyptian government is coordinating with relevant authorities to assess the condition of the shrines and cemeteries affected by the construction of a new traffic axis. The Egyptian government plans to construct new traffic routes connecting East and South Cairo, which passes through the historic cemetery. In the past week, videos and photos have been shared on social media documenting the demolition of the Mausoleum of Imam al-Shafi’i on Imam Shafi’i Street in Cairo’s City of the Dead. The dome of al-Imam al-Shafi’i – the Palestinian theologian who founded the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence – is a significant religious and architectural landmark in Cairo. This recent demolition has sparked widespread outrage, with many using hashtags such as ‘#انقذوا_ تراث_ مصر (Save Egypt’s Heritage) to voice their concerns. In exclusive statements to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Hano emphasized that the Ministry of Culture has acted swiftly to stop ongoing demolitions. “The demolition will be halted until we study the status of the shrines and cemeteries in the path of…


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