Demolition of Cairo’s historic cemeteries erases 1,200 years of history

The ongoing demolition of Cairo’s historic cemeteries, known as the “Cities of the Dead,” threatens to erase centuries of history, as bulldozers tear apart a unique urban and historical fabric to make way for traffic axes and tourist developments.

The most stark example is the systematic destruction of the 1,200-year-old Al-Sayyeda Nafisa tombs. The northern section of Al-Qarafa Al-Sughra, or the Lesser Cemetery, now faces near-total eradication, with only a handful of landmark domes and mausoleums left standing in isolation amidst the rubble.