Egypt
Al-Ahram
See the above link for more information.
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Egypt
Unholy thefts
Al-Ahram
Thefts from Islamic monuments in the Darb Al-Ahmar area have highlighted the problem of security at Cairo's historic mosques.
Inlaid wooden panels from the minbars of Ganim Al-Bahlawan and Altinbuga Al-Maridani mosques have been stolen, and a marble relief from the Blue Mosque. Thieves were also caught red handed, attempting to make off with a magnificent ironwork grill window from the sabil kuttab of Rokaya Dudu.
"It's a terrible loss," says Gamal Abdel-Rehim, professor of Islamic monuments at Cairo University's Faculty of Archaeology. The minbar of Ganim Al-Bahlawan was among the most important in any of Cairo's monumental mosques.
"Securing archaeological sites is the responsibility of the authority to which the site is affiliated," said Abdel-Khaleq Mokhtar, director of monuments in south Cairo.
Abdel-Khaleq says the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has repeatedly requested that the Ministry of Awqaf (religious endowments) tighten security at mosques or else hand over responsibility to the SCA. "Currently the role of the SCA is to restore mosques and then hand them back to the Awqaf. The SCA then makes only periodic checks on the buildings' archaeological features."
Sheikh Kamal Abdel-Nasser, director of Awqaf in Cairo, argues that the SCA is shirking its responsibilities. "Why does the SCA refuse to admit responsibility for their own security shortcomings and seek, instead, to blame the mosque guards?" he asks.
Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the SCA, will hold a meeting next week with the head of the Awqaf to draw up a security plan for archaeological mosques.
See the above link for more information.
- Islamic Monuments In Egypt's Muizz Street Are Threatened
Youm7 (Dina Abdel Alem Mohammad Awad) After being the biggest open-air museum in the world since it was restored three years ago, Muizz Street in old Cairo turned into public car park due to the absence of security. Thus the Islamic monuments are...
- Hawas Opens Three Ancient Mosques In Damietta Governorate
Egypt State Information Service Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawas opened in Dammietta Monday three ancient mosques. Restoration works on the three mosques began five years ago with a total cost of 57 million EGP. The...
- Travel: Medieavel Cairo
Egypt Today (Ethar El-Katatney) Imams, rabbis and priests all frequently crossed paths in Old Cairo back in the day when mosques and churches and synagogues all inhabited the same districts. In a city that has been home to a number of religions and cultures...
- Sca To Take Legal Action In Mosque Robbery Case
Daily News EgyptThe Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) is taking legal action against the workers of Mengak Al Youssefi Mosque after some of the mosque’s antiques located in the citadel area were stolen last Friday. Decorative parts of the menbar...
- Mixed Signals In The Egytian Heritage Hierarchy
Al Ahram Weekly While Culture Minister Farouk Hosni was nominated for the post of UNESCO director-general, writes Nevine El-Aref, two of his closest aides are arrested on charges of bribery. . . .This time the furore involves, rather, two of his aides:...