Rights Center Praises Court Ruling In Favor of Qarsaya Isle Residents

Rights Center Praises Court Ruling In Favor of Qarsaya Isle Residents

The National Assembly for Defending Rights and Freedoms paid tribute to the verdict issued by the Administrative Judicial Court in favor of the Qarsaya island residents. It said this verdict reflects the integrity of the Egyptian judiciary, and added that Egypt’s judges are always aligning to justice.


The events of Al Qarsaya island started in 1998, when the Saudi Arabian Prince Faisal bin Mohamed bin Saud bin Abdul-Aziz had filed a request for establishing a tourist center on 100,000 m at Al Qarsaya island, at south Giza bridge, opposite to Al Bahr Al Aazam street.


 The residents of the island protested. The government had to postpone the Prince’s request without determining a certain date for the reply. Then the inhabitants feared the expulsion about three months ago, when the Prince obtained the area he had requested before.


These residents dwelled the island 100 years ago. They lived a tranquil and simple life, depending on fishing and agriculture. But suddenly, their lives became full of violations and abuses by the police to force them to leave their homes and lands.



These people stood against these violations, and protested against the illegal expulsion decision, via sit-ins, peaceful strikes and resorting to judicial administration. Finally, the last verdict stated that the court canceled the decision of the prime minister which decided to take the residents’ ownerships, and considered it as power abuse.


The National Assembly for defending rights and freedoms demanded those responsible to implement the verdict. It said the government should abide by the verdict and should give the residents the contracts of their lands and homes. It also asked the Giza governor to supply the residents of Al Qarsaya with services like other citizens as sanitation, safe roads, suitable transportations, pure drinking water, and the rest of services, as well as to ensure protection of their properties.