“Al-Qarafa” is a word that means the Muslim cemetery in Egypt, and it is located in the area located in the Egyptian capital Cairo Its area extended below Mokattam and was inhabited by simple people. This term was widely used throughout Egypt, and the intended dome dates back to the era of Muhammad Ali, who ruled Egypt from 1805 until 1848.
Briefing request
Demolishing the dome called for action Egyptian Parliament Representative Abdel Moneim Imam submitted a briefing request to the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Local Development regarding the demolition of the Dome of Moustalouda Muhammad Ali Pasha.
He confirmed in the briefing request, a copy of which was obtained by the Sky News Arabia website, that “the Dome of Moustaulada Muhammad Ali Pasha is part of the cultural and historical heritage of Egypt, and carries invaluable architectural and archaeological value. However, there are reports indicating that the dome has been demolished or exposed.” “Severe damage occurred, which raises concerns about the extent of the state’s interest in preserving this historical landmark.”
He continued: “This behavior represents a threat to archaeological and heritage sites that constitute an important part of the Egyptian identity. Preserving these sites requires intensive efforts and cooperation between the relevant ministries, especially with the increase in challenges related to restoration and maintenance.”
He stressed that “preserving these archaeological sites is a shared responsibility between… Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities The competent authorities, given the importance of these monuments in promoting cultural tourism and attracting visitors from inside and outside Egypt, demolishing or neglecting these monuments constitutes a threat to our heritage and history.”
Representative Imam demanded clarification of the reasons for the demolition of the Mustawla Dome Muhammad Ali Pasha The measures taken to protect the architectural and historical heritage, and knowledge of the Ministry’s plan to protect heritage and archaeological sites and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
He also called for clarification of current or future procedures for the restoration and maintenance of historical monuments throughout the country, as well as the extent of coordination between the Ministry of Culture and the bodies concerned with heritage protection to ensure the preservation of this heritage for future generations.
He also called for revealing who was responsible for the demolition decision and the measures taken to hold him accountable in accordance with the law.
The Ministry of Antiquities comments
Chief archaeologist at the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Magdy Shaker, responded in statements to Egyptian media that the dome is not considered a monument and is not registered on the antiquities census list, stressing that historical buildings have been registered as archaeological buildings since the issuance of Law No. 117 of 1983, which has passed for 100 years.
He pointed out that the law stipulates that every property or movable property produced by different civilizations or created by the arts, sciences, literature and religions from the prehistoric era and during successive historical eras until 100 years ago is considered an antiquity as a manifestation of the various civilizations that were established on Earth. Egypt Or had a historical connection to it, as well as the remains of human lineages and contemporary organisms.
He added that many buildings were included in the list of antiquities dating back more than a hundred years, which is a matter that is due to the decisions and powers of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Antiquities registration file
Representative Abdel Moneim Imam commented on this government response by emphasizing that the issue of not registering the dome as a historical monument raises anger.
Imam added to Sky News Arabia, “There are countries in the world that record antiquities that are 40 or 50 years old and care about them, but in Egypt we are talking about historical domes that are hundreds of years old.”
He added that the recurring problem in such situations is that “the issue of registering antiquities is disputed Islamic antiquities And the Ministry of Antiquities and the Ministry of Endowments, and I believe that this is a matter that cannot be tolerated and must be resolved. These are monuments from the days of Muhammad Ali at a time when no major countries in the world were established, so how can I classify them as not being monuments?”
He continued, “The main problem relates to the feasibility of the work of the bodies responsible for registering antiquities, whatever they may be, because they are not doing their work properly, and the methodology they use needs to be reviewed.”
He stated that the request to be informed “about the current and future procedures and to present the person responsible for the demolition decision to the relevant authorities, and in the event that the issue requires a legislative amendment regarding the device for registering establishments of a historical nature, it must be amended, because this issue will open a major door to reviewing these procedures in a significant way.”