Why Is UNESCO Turning a Blind Eye to Sisi’s Demolitions of Islamic Heritage?

Every few months, the Egyptian government's bulldozers once again commit the crime of demolishing Islamic heritage, prompting both citizens and experts to call on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to hold the Egyptian regime accountable. 

Some have even gone so far as to urge countries to refrain from voting for Egypt’s candidate for the presidency of the international body.

The Sisi administration has put forth former Culture Minister Khaled al-Anani as its nominee for the Director-General position at UNESCO, set for election in 2025.

Since 2020, the historic neighborhoods of Old Cairo have been subjected to a series of demolitions, all justified by the state’s purported road projects.

These actions have led to the destruction of numerous archaeological and cultural landmarks, representing a real threat to Egypt’s rich Islamic heritage.

Military-affiliated contracting firms have conducted nearly four demolition campaigns, targeting significant Islamic monuments and cemeteries in the Old Cairo area. 

Officially, they claim these sites obstruct the construction of new roads and bridges—an assertion experts dispute, noting that the cemeteries do not impede progress and could easily be worked around.

Identity Erasure

Each time archaeologists and heritage enthusiasts in Egypt voice their objections to the demolition of historical cemeteries—such as those in the Imam al-Shafi‘i area, where new bridges are to be erected above fast-food outlets as part of the military’s business ventures—the authorities temporarily halt the destruction until the uproar subsides.

Soon after, committees are announced to assess the archaeological sites, only for the authorities to ultimately disregard both the objections and the committees’ recommendations. 

The bulldozers return, reducing yet another culturally rich area, steeped in history, to piles of rubble upon which new bridges are built.

Egyptians accuse the authorities of deliberate malfeasance, asserting that this is not merely a case of mismanagement but a systematic erasure of ancient Islamic landmarks and histories. 

Demolishing Islamic historical sites, they argue, is part of Sisi’s broader agenda to dismantle Islamic identity and replace it with a distorted narrative for future generations.

Exasperated by the stubborn insistence of official bodies to push through these plans with military decrees—without regard for expert opinions and archaeological insights—some citizens are now calling for UNESCO’s formal intervention to hold the regime accountable to stop its crimes.

Human rights advocate Nasser Amin has urged rejection of al-Anani’s candidacy for UNESCO Director-General, saying in a tweet, “I reject the Egyptian candidate Khaled al-Anani as Director General of UNESCO. If this is happening to our heritage now, what will happen to it if this candidate who remained silent in the face of these crimes against our heritage wins?”

According to Al-Estiklal, Journalist Hafez Mirazi said, “You cannot give what you do not have.”

He posed a striking question, “How can a minister of [Tourism and] antiquities, who justified his government's destruction of its own global heritage, be trusted to lead UNESCO and protect the cultural heritage of other nations from the tyranny, domination, and bullying of powerful states and corporations?”

He noted that Khaled al-Anani has become infamous for erasing historical sites rather than safeguarding and cataloging Cairo's rich cultural heritage, which UNESCO designated as a World Heritage site in 1979. 

Hafez Mirazi criticized al-Anani's comments during his 2021 bid for the UNESCO position, when he suggested that classifying every building older than a century as a heritage site would result in half of the country's buildings being designated as such.

He ironically predicted that the government would focus its efforts on supporting al-Anani’s candidacy for UNESCO by highlighting his achievement in restoring the Jewish temple in Alexandria, funded by the state.

Television host Lamis Elhadidy raised a poignant question on Facebook, "What will we tell UNESCO about the destruction of this heritage, when it has recognized all of historic Cairo as a World Heritage site, while we are nominating a representative from Egypt to lead UNESCO?"

She shared an image of a decision from the Minister of Housing dated September 16, 2024, which ordered the removal of ten historically significant cemeteries. 

Elhadidy expressed astonishment that the Ministry of Housing—not archaeological experts—was determining the historical importance of these sites.

The Society of Egyptian Architects (SEA) issued a statement condemning the demolition of these sites as a blatant violation of both national and international laws meant to safeguard architectural and cultural heritage. Among these is the 1972 UNESCO Convention, to which Egypt is a signatory, committing the country to preserve sites of universal value and prevent any threats or destruction.

Shocking Scenes

On October 25, 2024, a group of intellectuals, archaeological experts, and various unions and associations signed a petition stating that Egypt must first prove to the world that it preserves its heritage before putting forth a candidate for the leadership of the largest global institution dedicated to culture and heritage.

In the petition published by the Safeguard of Historic Cairo's Cemeteries, they emphasized that Egypt's historical cemeteries have been subjected to systematic waves of destruction for the past four years, occurring in phases.

As reported by Al-Estiklal, this group of intellectuals warned that demolition efforts "temporarily halt when community opposition intensifies, driven by harrowing images of bulldozers removing millennia-old stones and brutally crushing the bones of the dead, all without any regard for history, human decency, or the sanctity of faiths."

The signatories criticized the shocking scenes of unique domes shattering in an instant, and gravestones bearing Quranic verses and poignant poetry strewn across the ground, which once adorned elegant burial sites representing the final resting place of their loved ones.

They noted that such images "will forever imprint the memories of future generations, reminding them of an era marked by those who destroyed a heritage preserved by both indigenous people and conquerors alike for centuries."

The signatories pointed out that alternatives to demolition had been proposed by a committee formed by the Cabinet, consisting of specialists in urban planning and heritage preservation in 2023.

They stressed that a feasibility study for the government’s proposed road and bridge project, initiated in 2020, had proven its inefficacy, as it only saves two minutes of travel time. 

Alternatively, the signatories suggested a project that leverages existing and newly developed road networks without impacting the historical cemeteries.

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR), a non-governmental legal and research organization that addresses issues of Egyptian and Arabic human rights, called for judicial intervention to halt the demolitions and protect historical cemeteries in a statement released on October 23, 2024. 

ECESR condemned the destruction of Egypt's architectural heritage, labeling it a blatant assault on cultural and historical identity, and accused the authorities of being the perpetrators of these attacks on historical landmarks, demanding accountability for those responsible.

ECESR further characterized the ongoing demolitions as a distortion of the collective memory of the Egyptian people, dismissing the historical and cultural significance of these sites.

ECESR criticized the judiciary for shutting its doors to appeals aimed at preserving heritage. 

They cited a ruling by the Administrative Court that rejected a lawsuit filed by the center on behalf of a group of professors and heritage conservation consultants.

This lawsuit sought to halt the demolitions and ensure necessary protections for the historical cemeteries and monuments of Old Cairo.

In September 2023, when authorities carried out demolition operations, UNESCO expressed its disapproval. 

According to an insider cited by Bab Msr, the UNESCO committee rejected a request from the Egyptian government during a meeting in Saudi Arabia regarding the reduction of the historic area of Cairo listed within UNESCO's boundaries, as it is designated as a historical zone.

Egypt previously nominated the former Minister of Family and Population, Ambassador Moushira Khattab, for the UNESCO Directorship in 2017, a bid that ultimately failed. 

In 2009, the country put forth former Minister of Culture and Antiquities Farouk Hosny for the same position, only to see his candidacy thwarted—reportedly at the behest of “Israel,” which accused him of anti-Semitism following his inflammatory statement in the Egyptian parliament about burning Israeli books if found in Egyptian libraries.

To secure the UNESCO Directorship, a candidate must garner 30 votes during the election, which unfolds over five rounds, culminating in a decisive sixth round in 2025. 

A candidate who achieves the requisite thirty votes receives the council's endorsement for the prestigious international role.

UNESCO, along with various heritage advocates, staunchly opposes the demolition of historical cemeteries and domes to make way for roads and bridges, frequently urging Egyptian authorities to clarify their plans for the region.

Nearly four decades ago, UNESCO inscribed historic Cairo, particularly its burial grounds known as the City of the Dead or Cairo Necropolis on its World Heritage List. 

In recent years, the organization has repeatedly expressed its concerns over the neglect faced by this area, threatening to delist it from the World Heritage designation and categorize it instead as a site in danger, according to a BBC report from October 23, 2024.

Widespread Outrage

The regime's bulldozers have once again resumed their demolition of significant heritage sites, characterized by their unique Islamic architecture, in the historic cemeteries of Cairo. 

Among the most notable losses is the Halim Pasha’s Dome, which is being dismantled to make way for elevated bridges and new thoroughfares.

Independent researcher Mustafa al-Sadiq, who focuses on heritage cemeteries, noted that “the dome, designed in the Mamluk style, was the final resting place of four notable figures.” 

These included Nam Shaz Qadin, the concubine of the great ruler Muhammad Ali Pasha, who passed away 155 years ago; her son, Prince Muhammad Abd al-Halim; Princess Karima, daughter of Prince Muhammad Abd al-Halim; and Prince Muhammad Ali Halim, along with nobleman Abbas Halim.`

The demolition of the Mohamed Ali Pasha Dome in the Imam al-Shafi'i cemetery, known as the Halim Pasha Dome, on October 22, 2024, along with the tomb of former Egyptian Prime Minister Yahya Pasha Ibrahim—one of the prominent figures in the resistance to British occupation—has sparked widespread outrage among archaeologists and on social media.

Experts and activists have accused the Egyptian authorities of neglecting the country’s historical and architectural heritage, raising alarms about the ongoing erasure of a rich cultural legacy.

They expressed concern that following the authorities’ demolition of the Halim dome—also known as the dome of Muhammad Ali Pasha's concubine, a significant historical structure in the Imam al-Shafi‘i cemetery—further architectural and cultural heritage in historic Cairo could be at risk of destruction. 

Heritage enthusiasts have circulated a prepared list of buildings slated for demolition, signaling the imminent destruction of yet another series of historic domes in the area.

In addition to Halim Pasha’s dome, several other structures need protection, including the ancient Jalzar dome and the Darimli and Falaki domes.

The Ministry of Culture and the media committees under the authorities have attempted to justify the demolitions by claiming these historical relics are not officially registered with them.

The Ministry’s statement has sparked outrage among experts who insist there is a crucial distinction between archaeological sites and the heritage currently being destroyed.

Documents have surfaced revealing the formation of a committee tasked with assessing these sites, yet it failed to act as demolitions proceeded with alarming swiftness, often executed through military orders that the Ministry of Culture frequently appears unaware of or chooses to justify.

Monica Hanna, an expert in ancient Egyptian heritage, asserts that historic Cairo has been recognized as UNESCO heritage since 1979, and its boundaries, as outlined in maps submitted at that time, protect the very area now facing destruction.

“This is why the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities attempted to shrink this area in the recent World Heritage meeting in Saudi Arabia, provoking widespread condemnation from the global academic community,” Hanna noted.

Awaiting the Assault

In response to the extensive backlash on social media from heritage experts, the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate (EES) has taken steps to assess the extent of the destruction inflicted upon archaeological sites.

The syndicate has intervened in the crisis, announcing the formation of committees tasked with evaluating the historical significance of the cemeteries being demolished and proposing initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis and safeguarding the nation’s heritage.

As the campaign spearheaded by heritage and archaeology experts intensified, Culture Minister Ahmed Henno announced that demolition efforts in the Imam al-Shafi‘i cemetery area would be "temporarily halted" to coordinate with relevant authorities and reassess the status of the graves slated for removal.

In an interview with al-Masry al-Youm on October 26, 2024, Henno stated that the Ministry of Culture is collaborating with the military to explore the possibility of either preserving the graves in their current locations or relocating them.

Henno noted that the cessation of demolition would remain in place until the status of the graves and cemeteries affected by the new traffic corridor could be thoroughly examined.

However, archaeology experts expressed skepticism, suggesting that this was merely a tactic to quell public outrage, with demolition likely to resume, as it has in previous instances.

Egyptian writer and archaeology researcher Galila el-Kadi declared that reports of a halt to demolition in the cemeteries are completely untrue; the destruction continues, according to eyewitness accounts.

She confirmed that while some areas may have seen temporary pauses in activity, bulldozers remain stationed nearby, waiting for the green light to resume their assault.

Member of the Safeguard of Historic Cairo's Cemeteries, Mustafa al-Sadiq, published a list detailing 16 cemeteries that have been demolished, as documented in a recent inventory. 

Among these are the burial sites of notable figures, including Mahmoud Sami el-Baroudi, Muhammed Ratib Pasha, the Commander of the Egyptian Army.

The list also includes the tombs of Ismail Chirine, a key naval leader during Muhammad Ali's reign; Qasim Muhammad Pasha, the first commander of the Mahrousa (Royal Yacht). 

Other significant losses include Muhammad Abdul Halim’s Dome, one of Muhammad Ali's youngest sons as well as the tomb of Princess Karima, the granddaughter of Muhammad Ali.

Historic sites such as the Imam al-Shafi’i School and Rabaa al-Adawiya School, have also been razed alongside the courtyard of influential figures like Youssef Kamil Pasha, a patron of the arts in Egypt and founder of the Faculty of Fine Arts; the facade of Ibrahim al-Nabrawi's courtyard, one of the leading physicians of his time; and the tomb of Imam Warsh, a renowned Quranic scholar.

The demolitions extend to the graves of Dr. Youssef Rashad, King Farouk’s physician and close friend; Dr. Ali Pasha Ibrahim, the first Egyptian dean of Qasr el Eyni School and Hospital; politician Bahey el-Din Barakat Pasha; and historian Ahmad Shafiq Pasha, known for his chronicles—and the prominent Zulfiqar family, as well as Queen Farida.

Erasing Heritage

Each time authorities demolish a grave or historical dome, government officials regurgitate the refrain that the cemeteries are not listed as heritage sites.

In an attempt to deflect criticism that has arisen each time historical cemeteries and buildings are razed, the Sisi regime has devised a rather cynical game of erasing these sites from official records, with the complicity of the Ministry of Culture, which is supposed to protect them.

When heritage advocates voice their objections to the demolitions, they are met with the disheartening revelation that the Minister of Culture has unilaterally removed the demolished sites from the heritage list. 

In tandem, state media launched a campaign claiming that the destroyed structures were never formally recognized as archaeological sites.

The Sisi administration has consistently disregarded the counsel of expert committees, deploying bulldozers to relentlessly demolish historic sites, including the cemeteries of Imam al-Shafi‘i, Sayyida Nafisa, and the Mamluks.

Magdy Shaker, a senior archaeologist at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, told al-Masry al-Youm that the Dome of Halim Pasha is neither an artifact nor listed in the archaeological inventory.

He contended that buildings over a century old have been recognized as heritage sites since the enactment of Law No. 117 in 1983, even though the history of this dome —and other historic domes—extends well beyond that century mark.

Archaeologist Mustafa al-Sadiq responded to Magdy Shaker and said, 'This is their constant excuse for demolition,' questioning how the ministry registers artifacts, and pointing to  serious neglect in this matter.

Al-Sadiq pointed out to Bab Msr that the Mosque of Sayyida Zainab was only recognized as a heritage site in 2017. 

“Could they really have demolished it in 2013 under the same pretext that it wasn’t registered?” he asked.

Al-Sadiq emphasized that the failure to register the Halim Pasha’s Dome as a heritage site is not a flaw in the site itself but rather a failure of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. 

He noted that there are other heritage landmarks now under threat of demolition, such as the Dome and Mosque of al-Falaki, the courtyards of Barakat and Rashwan Pasha Abdullah, and the tomb of Sami el-Baroudi.

Despite the significance of the Halim Pasha’s Dome, which has now been demolished, it had never been officially registered as an artifact. 

This raises troubling questions about the justification for its destruction, particularly when the Antiquities Law of 1983 stipulates that any structure over a century old should be treated as a heritage site.

Amid the latest wave of demolitions, Ahmed Younis, a local resident, asserted that the demolitions are tied to the preparation and expansion of roads for UAE projects in Egypt. 

According to Al-Estiklal, the local resident noted that the old Hamam market, the Kharta area, the Shukri Diploma School, and several historical domes are also slated for removal to create a thoroughfare connecting to the Mosque of al-Rifai and the Sultan Hassan, as a company from the UAE has secured a permanent lease for the Citadel's precinct.

The demolition of numerous historic Islamic cemeteries in Cairo—particularly in the neighborhoods of Sayyida Aisha, Imam al-Shafi‘i, and the Mamluks—to make way for new roads and bridges has sparked widespread outrage. 

This controversy is further fueled by the government’s contrasting focus on the preservation and renovation of Jewish cemeteries.

Notably, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the government has shown a striking commitment to restoring neglected Jewish cemeteries and temples, despite the fact that Jewish presence in Egypt has dwindled to a mere five people since the mass exodus of the 1950s. 

Meanwhile, Jewish burial sites are being renewed at a time when the country’s Islamic heritage faces increasing threats of destruction.

On November 20, 2022, the authorities, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), and representatives from American and Egyptian Jewish organizations, inaugurated the newly restored Levi and Menasha cemeteries in Cairo.