A group of residents in Old Manial, Cairo — known as Waqf Tabtbay — has filed a lawsuit against the head of the Old Cairo district, protesting what they describe as “arbitrary demolitions” and escalating security and administrative pressure to force them from their homes.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) said the dispute stems from a government redevelopment plan launched in 2013 under a protocol between the Ministry of Endowments, which owns the land, and Cairo Governorate. At the time, residents were explicitly promised relocation to newly built housing within the same area.
According to EIPR, those commitments were never fulfilled. The project was approved in 2018 and residents were surveyed in 2022, but implementation stalled due to administrative disputes between the ministry and the governorate. The plan was revived in November 2024, with demolitions beginning in October 2025, which the group said took place without adequate safeguards for residents’ rights.
Meanwhile, the official Facebook page of the Old Cairo district has in recent months published posts highlighting meetings between district officials and residents during field visits. The posts say authorities are committed to listening to citizens, addressing complaints and ensuring public satisfaction.
According to project details announced by the district in July 2014, the redevelopment spans roughly 21,000 square meters and includes 21 residential buildings with 452 housing units, 42 administrative units and 126 commercial shops. Plans also include a services building of about 185 square meters, investment towers of a ground floor plus 11 stories covering about 2,881 square meters, and a 10-story commercial and administrative complex spanning approximately 1,180 square meters.
A field visit by the head of the Old Cairo district to the Tabatbai area, Feb. 5, 2026.As demolition work has advanced in recent months, EIPR said residents have faced pressure ranging from inducement to intimidation by executive and security authorities aimed at forcing them to leave.
The group reported an increased presence of district and governorate officials, alongside police and National Security personnel, following the filing of the lawsuit.
Residents told EIPR that some were forced to delete photos and videos documenting demolitions, while those demanding fair compensation were threatened with having their homes demolished without compensation. In some cases, homes belonging to residents who refused to sign compensation agreements were demolished immediately, which the group said could undermine their legal rights.
In parallel with the lawsuit, residents, supported by EIPR lawyers, filed a complaint with the public prosecutor under Case No. 17558 of 2026. The complaint alleges that demolitions targeted inhabited homes and that authorities imposed collective punishment by cutting utilities — including electricity, water and landlines — to pressure residents to leave.
Residents also report a lack of clarity about their future housing arrangements and the nature of compensation, including whether it will be financial or involve relocation within the same area.
EIPR said the case reflects a broader pattern seen in redevelopment projects across Cairo, where demolitions proceed without clear or transparent compensation and resettlement plans.
The group called for an immediate halt to what it described as coercive measures and urged authorities to ensure fair and transparent compensation before proceeding, in line with constitutional protections and the right to adequate housing.
