Experts challenge scope of Cairo cemetery demolitions despite El-Sisi’s groundwater justifications

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attributed the demolition of Cairo’s historic cemeteries to groundwater seepage, saying that “water had entered a large proportion of the tombs.” Two heritage researchers, however, said the groundwater problem did not affect all the areas where demolitions took place.

The government has expanded the demolition of Cairo’s historic cemeteries over the past three years, prompting protests from political parties, civil society organizations and around 700 architects, human rights activists and individuals. In October 2024, they called for urgent action to halt the demolitions, describing the cemeteries as “a cherished and sacred part of our cultural heritage,” and “more than just stones.”

During that period, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly acknowledged that implementing authorities had made mistakes during the demolitions, prompting a decision to suspend the work. He said the government was committed to taking all necessary measures to preserve heritage and pledged that “no mistakes or violations of this kind would be repeated in the future.”

El-Sisi has now returned to defending the demolitions. Speaking at a session on urban development during the Egypt Forum 2026 on Tuesday, he said groundwater had reached tombs in the Citadel, Sayeda Nafisa, Sayeda Zeinab and Imam Al-Shafie areas, forcing some families to place sand and bricks inside them before burying their dead.

He said he had ordered the conditions to be documented by the media, recalling: “I told them, ‘Go down there, take the media with you and go inside and film the tombs.’”

El-Sisi described leaving the cemeteries untouched as an “ideal proposal,” but said the practical reality was different. “It is neither religiously permissible, nor humane, nor acceptable for a state that respects its people to allow them to throw a body into water like that and leave it,” he said. He added that the state had built, and was continuing to build, around 70,000 replacement tombs in three phases near Helwan and 10th of Ramadan City, with the state covering the costs.

Heritage researcher Ibrahim Taiea acknowledged that groundwater seepage into Cairo’s historic cemeteries had been a problem for decades in parts of the Imam Al-Shafie cemetery area. But, based on his observations, he told Al Manassa that it had not affected all the areas where demolitions took place.

Taiea, a member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies who documents Egypt’s cemeteries, distinguished between groundwater damage to some tombs and using that damage to justify demolitions elsewhere. “Groundwater was not the main problem in all the cemeteries,” he said.

Taiea linked the emergence of groundwater in parts of the Imam Al-Shafie cemetery area, particularly in tombs near Ain El-Sira and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, to development projects that included filling in parts of Ain El-Sira Lake. He said water began appearing in nearby tombs after the filling work.

He also pointed to declining maintenance and spending on the cemeteries, which contributed to their deterioration. In earlier periods, he said, funds from religious endowments had been allocated to maintain some tombs.

Nevertheless, Taiea stressed that cemeteries in other areas, including locations toward Al-Abagiyya and Ibn El-Farid Street, were also demolished despite showing no signs of groundwater damage, according to his observations.

Asked whether demolition was the only solution for damaged tombs, Taiea said the problem should have been addressed by consulting engineers and specialists to find ways to prevent water seepage and protect the structures.

Mustafa El-Sadek, a professor emeritus of medicine at Qasr El-Aini and a researcher documenting the history and architecture of Cairo’s cemeteries, agreed. He said groundwater conditions varied from one location to another, summarizing his observations as: “Some have it, and some don’t.” He also pointed to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization’s proximity to the cemeteries.

El-Sadek expressed pessimism about the fate of the remaining historic cemeteries, predicting that demolitions would continue and expand. “If you have a palace and a house, and you demolish the palace, it becomes easy to demolish the house,” he said.

Demolitions linked to road projects in Cairo’s cemeteries date back to 2020, predating the latest three-year wave. Construction of the El-Ferdous Axis affected parts of the Al-Ghufair cemetery in the Mamluk Cemetery area, drawing objections from heritage preservation specialists and cemetery owners.

Since then, calls to halt the demolitions have continued. One appeal, issued by more than 300 architects, heritage experts, public figures and cemetery owners’ representatives, urged the authorities to stop the work, withdraw demolition equipment, assess the damage and protect the remaining architectural features. The appeal was published by the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.