Residents of this Egyptian village forced to leave their homes

A correspondent in Egypt

Aug 14, 2020

This picture taken on July 22, 2020 shows a view of ongoing demolitions of graveyards and construction work for a new flyover bridge passing through the Basatin cemetery, south of historic old Cairo. - Egyptian mother-of-three Menna was caught off guard when a bulldozer clearing space for a controversial highway flattened much of a mausoleum that doubled as her home in a Cairo 7th century Islamic necropolis. Her parents and grandparents had made their home among the graves of the City of the Dead, where bur — This picture shows a view of ongoing demolitions of graveyards and construction work for a new flyover bridge passing through the Basatin cemetery, south of historic old Cairo, Egypt, July 22, 2020 — KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

A resident of Sayadeen village in Alexandria governorate revealed details about the Egyptian security forces’ attempt to forcibly remove the inhabitants of the village despite their possession of documents proving their ownership of the land and properties. The inhabitants were beaten, and dozens were arrested and jailed after being referred for investigation to the military prosecution in Alexandria.

Ahmed Abdul Menhem, who hails from Sayadeen village, told Al-Monitor, “The residents were surprised with the security forces storming the village with armored vehicles on July 18, in an attempt to force them to leave. They promised to give the residents alternative housing, but they rejected the offer. The security forces then threw tear gas grenades at them.”