Island of Fury: Egypt Erupts in Chaos as Security Forces Clash with Locals on Warak Island Over Shocking Assault on Civilians
- On Thursday morning, clashes broke out between residents and security forces on Egypt's Nile Warrak Island.
- Al-Jazeera people gathered at Al-Jazeera police ambush yesterday, Wednesday, to protest an officer's assault and beating of 3 Al-Waraq boys.
- Video released by Makram Mahrous, one of the island's residents, who has repeatedly refused to leave the island, insisting on his loyalty to his land, shows clashes between...
Cairo – “Jerusalem of the Arabs”:
On Thursday morning, clashes broke out between residents and security forces on Egypt’s Nile Warrak Island.
Al-Jazeera people gathered at Al-Jazeera police ambush yesterday, Wednesday, to protest an officer’s assault and beating of 3 Al-Waraq boys.
Video released by Makram Mahrous, one of the island’s residents, who has repeatedly refused to leave the island, insisting on his loyalty to his land, shows clashes between people gathered near the ambush and they use stones. They were attacked by security forces and tear gas bombs.
According to what is said in the video, several residents suffered from birdshot and minor suffocation, in addition to some bruises and abrasions.
Protests returned to the island earlier this September, with residents staging near-daily protests, demanding that security forces allow them to bring in cement and construction materials again.
Last June, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli ordered any attempts at illegal construction on the island to be decisively dealt with, and to prevent the return of haphazard areas there, with the need to adhere to a time schedule to evacuate houses and land. Continuation of development projects aimed at compensating those entitled to it and creating a qualitative change in services on the island.
The crisis between the people of the island and the Egyptian government began in the summer of 2017, when the security units suddenly surrounded the area and began to demolish their houses on top of the residents, resulting in one death with live bullets and injuries among the residents and the security forces.
In late July 2023, the Egyptian State Information Service – a government agency – released images it said were of “Horus”, “formerly” Warak Island.
The authorities revealed plans to transform the island into an investment area and the authorities commented on the pictures: “Yes. A city on Egyptian soil and an international commercial center comparable to the most prominent commercial centers in the world.”
He continued: The area of the island is 1,516 acres, which is equal to 6.36 square kilometers, and the cost of implementing the project has reached 17.5 billion pounds.
According to the Egyptian Information Service, the feasibility study estimates total revenue at 122.54 billion Egyptian pounds, while it indicates an annual income of 20.422 billion Egyptian pounds for 25 years.
He added: The project will include 8 investment areas, a commercial area and a prominent residential area, a green area, Marinas 1 and 2 and a tourist riverfront. A tourist resort, and investment accommodation.
Emirates’ RSP Real Estate Engineering Office previously released an investment plan for the Warak Island project, in 2013. The island’s development was considered a model for future developments in Cairo due to its striking location on the Nile, integrating new city design into the heart of the capital.
The project aims to depopulate the island after converting it into a financial services area, similar to New York City’s “Manhattan” island.