By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
    As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
    June 6, 2023
    FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
    FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
    June 6, 2023
    New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
    New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
    June 6, 2023
    CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
    CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
    June 6, 2023
    International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
    International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
    June 6, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation
    Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation
    June 5, 2023
    Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan
    Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan
    June 5, 2023
    Al-Sisi participates in African meeting on mediation in Russian-Ukrainian crisis
    Al-Sisi participates in African meeting on mediation in Russian-Ukrainian crisis
    June 5, 2023
    Washington, Riyadh call for new ceasefire agreement in Sudan
    Washington, Riyadh call for new ceasefire agreement in Sudan
    June 5, 2023
    Ugandan president says 54 peacekeepers killed in Somalia deadly attack
    Ugandan president says 54 peacekeepers killed in Somalia deadly attack
    June 5, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    May 31, 2023
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    May 25, 2023
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    May 8, 2023
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    April 29, 2023
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    April 18, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Nubian protest at Abu Simbel solar alignment celebration
Share
Notification
Latest News
As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
Tourism
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
Business
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
Business
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
Business
International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Egypt > Nubian protest at Abu Simbel solar alignment celebration
EgyptPolitics

Nubian protest at Abu Simbel solar alignment celebration

Amira El-Fekki
Last updated: 2016/02/22 at 3:43 PM
By Amira El-Fekki 5 Min Read
Share
Nubian citizens protest against decree 444 at Abu Simbel Temple in February 2016 (public domain)
SHARE

A group of Nubian citizens and activists protested Monday at Aswan’s Abu Simbel Temple, as hundreds of tourists gathered in the early hours of the morning to watch a unique solar perpendicular alignment illuminating the face of ancient King Ramses II.

“Around 50 to 70 people rallied for the cause of the Nubians, and security forces did not intervene against us,” said lawyer Muhammed Azmy, coordinator of the initiative and head of the General Nubian Union.

The protest condemns a presidential decree, referred to as ‘Decree 444’, issued in 2014, and passed by the House of Representatives last month. The decree designated a large stretch of land in Nubia as a new restricted military zone, adjacent to the Egypt’s border with Sudan.

According to Azmy, the decree obliterates the Nubian’s dream of returning to their home lands, from which they were displaced decades ago by the state to allow the construction of dams on the Nile. The return of the Nubian people to their lands is a right guaranteed by the constitution, he noted.

Aswan’s General Nubian Union said it specifically chose that day to attract worldwide attention to their “historical right to the property of the land”. To them, the area designated to be a restricted military zone is the exactly the land the Nubian people have been claiming for decades and hoping to return to, after they had been forcibly displaced from it in past decades to allow for the state to build dams in Aswan. In 1963, the construction of Egypt’s High Dam resulted in mass Nubian displacement.

“One day, the Nubian people were required to leave their houses and move away,”  Azmy said. “They were told that they would be doing this to support their country. They were promised compensations, and more importantly, a return to their home, none of which happened.”

What now angers Nubians most is to see those promises broken despite the latest Egyptian constitution passed in a public referendum in 2014 maintained the promise and outlined some guarantees for the Nubian people.

As of January 2016, two years have passed without progress. Moreover presidential decree 444/2014 designated several adjacent areas to Egypt’s borderlines to be restricted military zones. Concerning Nubia, that zone extends from the southern borders between Egypt and Sudan over 110km on the eastern side of the Nile and 25km on the Western side of the Nile.

Nubian citizens previously condemned  decree 444, militarising their land and banning them from returning to it. (Photo by General Nubian Union )
Nubian citizens previously condemned decree 444, militarising their land and banning them from returning to it. (Photo by General Nubian Union )

Despite that the decree was issued over a year ago, Nubians were reawakened after the decree was approved and passed by the newly elected House of Representatives, during the 15 first days of its sessions in January 2016, in which the parliament was required to look at nearly 340 decrees issued in its absence that had the force of law.

Azmy does not see hope for further discussion of the decree in the parliament, especially amid being represented by only one Nubian MP. “If decisions related to the state’s sovereignty and national security issued by the president are a red line for the parliament, then what are MPs useful for?” he said.

The former ministry of Transitional Justice conducted many meetings and helped exchange points of views between the Nubian people and officials. “There were several draft law projects presented to the presidency regarding the resettlement of the Nubian people, all dismissed,” he told Daily News Egypt. “We decided to stand up for our rights before the decree enters into implementation in contradiction with the constitution.”

Azmy is convinced that the state’s intention from the beginning was to take over their land. “They probably needed our support to pass the constitution, resulting in the inclusion of article 236 but they were planning otherwise, even since the days of former president Hosni Mubarak,” he said.

The reason he provides is that the land, which included 16 Nubian villages, is rich not only in agricultural resources being located on the Nile but also in gold. “We will not wait until the area is closed for good,” Azmy said and who confirmed had been subject to threats by the security apparatus to call it off under the pretext of preserving the image of Egypt for tourists.

You Might Also Like

Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation

Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan

Al-Sisi participates in African meeting on mediation in Russian-Ukrainian crisis

Washington, Riyadh call for new ceasefire agreement in Sudan

Al Baraka Bank launches ‘Ezdihar’ programme for SMEs finance

TAGGED: Aswan, high dam, protest
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
By Amira El-Fekki
Journalist in DNE's politics section, focusing on human rights, laws and legislations, press freedom, among other local political issues.
Previous Article Legendary goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, 43, rejoined the Egyptian national squad. He was selected by Argentinean coach Hector Cuper as the team prepares for an upcoming match against Nigeria that will be held between 23 and 26 March in Nigeria. El-Hadary rejoins Egyptian national team after 458 days
Next Article Port Said Harbour to be launched later this week
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
Tourism
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
Business
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
Business
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?