Skip to Content

New highways carve into Cairo’s City of the Dead cemetery as Egypt’s government reshapes the city

By LEE KEATH and SAMY MAGDY
Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — Preservationists say highway construction by the Egyptian government threatens to destroy Cairo’s City of the Dead, a vast historic cemetery that has been in use for more than 1,000 years. Authorities have already razed hundreds of tombs and mausoleums as they carry out plans to build a network of multilane highways through the cemetery. The cemetery houses the graves of major Islamic figures and prominent Egyptian politicians, artists and scholars, as well as the families of ordinary Egyptians. The government says alternative burial sites will be provided and historic tombs moved to new locations, but the destruction has sparked an unusual outcry.

Article Topic Follows: AP-National

Jump to comments ↓

Associated Press

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content