Sisi orders construction of Egyptian figure cemetery, museum

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered the establishment of a cemetery in a new distinguished location for the remains of iconic Egyptian figures, said Ahmed Fahmy, the Presidential Spokesperson, on Monday.

Some high-profile historic Egyptian figures’ tombs are to be moved for urgent development needs, such as constructing bridges and highways, to overcome traffic bottlenecks in Cairo.

al-Sisi also ordered the establishment of a museum in the new location to house artistic and archaeological works that are in the existing tombs of the iconic figures, Fahmy added. The museum will also feature biographies of the figures and their belongings.

al-Sisi has ordered the process of transporting the remains of the figures from their current cemeteries to the new location to be carried out by specialists and experts.

al-Sisi also ordered a committee, which would be headed by the Prime Minister, Moustafa Madbouly, to study the development necessities behind the transfer of tombs in historic neighbourhoods like Sayeda Nafisa and Imam Shafi’i to reach an integrated vision and recommendations.

The committee, which is to be announced to the public by July 1, will include specialists and archaeologists, as well as representatives from authorities and engineering consulting firms.