The future of the Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt's South Sinai remains in doubt, warns the An Nahar newspaper, which, in a new report, takes under its microscope the 13-year dispute over land ownership. The crisis has intensified following a recent court ruling by the Ismailia Court of Appeal on May 28, which affirmed the Egyptian state's ownership of the lands surrounding the monastery while granting the monastery's followers rights to use the religious sites.
The monastery, with its 1,500-year history, has entered a new phase of tension as Archbishop Damianos, the monastery's head, has temporarily relocated to Cairo before an expected departure to Greece. The daily flow of approximately 800 visitors has come to a halt, affecting both the religious site's operations and the local Bedouin communities who assist with visitor activities.
The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the aftermath of Egypt's January 25, 2011, revolution, when the Muslim Brotherhood rose to power. Dr. Ehab Ramzy, a former lawyer for the monastery and current Egyptian parliamentarian, told An Nahar that during this period, the Brotherhood successfully issued 71 demolition orders against monastery structures, falsely claiming they were "recent encroachments on state lands." Despite the Brotherhood's fall from power, these orders were never officially canceled.
"President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's commitment to preserving the monastery's religious status deserves appreciation," Ramzy stated. "However, the monks, being foreigners, don't fully grasp the concept of verbal commitment versus a court ruling, so I've been trying to clarify the situation and help them reach a permanent legal solution."
The monastery's historical significance extends far beyond the current dispute. Dr. Abdel Rahim Rihan, an archaeological expert and member of the History and Archaeology Committee at the Supreme Council of Culture, explained that Saint Catherine's Monastery was registered as a monument by Decision No. 85 of 1993 among the monuments of the Byzantine era. Scientific studies contributed to the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Saint Catherine City in 2002.
The diplomatic dimension of the crisis has prompted high-level interventions. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a phone call with President El-Sisi, resulting in an official statement from the Egyptian presidency affirming "Egypt's full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery." Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty also met with European ambassadors in Cairo to provide a detailed explanation of the court ruling.
The core issue remains the monastery officials' rejection of the notion that they do not legally own lands they consider part of their history and sacred heritage after nearly 1,500 years of continuous presence. Ramzy suggests that while Egyptian and international laws prevent the transfer of ownership of archaeological sites, "there are pieces of land and assets that do not fall under the category of monuments, which monks have used for decades or centuries, and their status can be legalized according to Egyptian legislation."
As the situation develops, Ramzy concludes that "the monks need an Egyptian personality who understands the country's legislative and cultural environment, who can reach a solution that translates the presidential promise into legal guarantees that preserve the monastery's historical and material rights."
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