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Egypt’s Dar al-Kiswah — a monument turned into a dump

After Egypt stopped producing the Kaaba’s kiswah in 1961, the centuries-old site of production now lies in a state of utter neglect amid calls for renovation by nearby residents and experts.
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CAIRO — Times have changed, and a place that Egyptians have long taken pride in is now victim to negligence, only containing some old equipment and garbage. The 200-year-old Dar al-Kiswah, which for over a century and a half boasted the honor of producing the kiswah — the traditional cloth covering the Kaaba in Mecca that is replaced annually during the hajj — has now turned into a storage space for the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments.

The historically and spiritually significant Dar al-Kiswah is located in one of Cairo’s narrow streets — al-Khoronfesh street in al-Gamaleya neighborhood. Recognized only by nearby residents, the place’s features have been obliterated and a sign with the name “Dar al-Kiswah al-Sharifa” (House of the holy Kiswah) now hangs on a steel gate that replaced the historic wooden one.

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