Demolition Continues

Ever since a petition was signed demanding that the government halt the demolition of parts of the historic cemeteries in the area of Sayyida Nafisa and elsewhere, and after the government formed a specialized committee to study the matter—a committee whose report concluded that the planned road could in fact be abandoned because it would save only two minutes of travel time—the cemeteries were nevertheless demolished, and the overpass and highway were built.

Despite knowing in advance the likely outcome of such appeals, and despite deciding not to repeat them, I found myself once again signing a statement two days ago. The statement had been circulated by lawyer Mohamed Fotouh, who has preserved his sound instincts and has defended, through legal means, the Alexandria Tram and its stations from destruction.

The statement called upon the Minister of Culture and the head of the National Organization for Urban Harmony to intervene urgently “to halt the ongoing demolition works targeting the Ramleh Tram and its stations, which are listed as part of the architectural heritage.”

The appeal explained that the Ramleh Tram system in Alexandria—which first opened in 1863 and remains the oldest tram system in both Africa and the Middle East—is currently being dismantled under the banner of a rehabilitation project financed by the European Investment Bank and the Agence Française de Développement, with additional contributions from the Egyptian government, bringing the total budget to approximately €592 million (around US$708 million).

Unfortunately, the project goes far beyond modernization. It includes replacing the current ground-level tram with a partially elevated light rail system, demolishing heritage station buildings officially registered as historically significant, removing thousands of mature urban trees, and effectively eliminating 14 out of the network’s 35 stations.

What is both regrettable and shocking is that, according to the official registry of the National Organization for Urban Harmony, four Ramleh Tram stations are formally listed as buildings of distinguished architectural value:

• Isis Station (Bolkly) – No. 1889
• Mostafa Kamel Station – No. 1781
• Sporting Station – No. 1731
• University Station – No. 1821

Yet all of them have nonetheless been placed on the demolition list.

The petition also reminded the government of Article 50 of the Egyptian Constitution, which states that “Egypt’s cultural and civilizational heritage, both material and immaterial, is a national and human treasure that the state is committed to preserving and protecting, and any aggression against it is a crime punishable by law.” It is an appropriate reminder, for the government should have been more conscious and more committed than ordinary citizens to protecting historical buildings. What has happened, however, has been precisely the opposite.

The Ramleh Tram is not merely a means of transportation. It is an integral part of the collective memory of Alexandria. More than 160 years old, it represents a central element of the city’s visual and cultural identity. Its destruction or erasure would constitute an irreparable loss and stands in contradiction to the state’s declared commitment to safeguarding heritage.

It is important to salute everyone who continues to defend their country’s heritage in a broader climate increasingly hostile to anything possessing historical or cultural value—regardless of whether the government ultimately responds.

Originally published in Al Masry Al Youm