After the collapse of the minaret of the Sidi Salama Mosque, who will save Islamic heritage from neglect?
The collapse of the minaret of the historic Sidi Salama Mosque in the city of Samannoud, in the Gharbia governorate, despite its restoration more than 30 years ago, has once again highlighted the crisis surrounding the protection and maintenance of Islamic and Coptic monuments in Egypt. The incident came as no surprise to archaeologists and experts, who said it was the result of a lack of coordination between the relevant authorities, pointing out that there are seven other Islamic archaeological sites in Samannoud alone, some of which are in urgent need of restoration.
Sheikh Salama Mosque in Samannoud
The Sheikh Salama Mosque is located on a street bearing his name in the city of Samannoud. The monument dates back to the scholar Sheikh Salama bin Naziha, who came to Egypt with Amr ibn al-As and lived in the Delta. The mosque is believed to have been built during the Ottoman period in the 10th century AH/16th century AD. It has been renovated several times.
According to Ali Pasha Mubarak’s book Al-Khatat al-Tawfiqiyya, “The Sheikh Salama Mosque is located near the sea. It is said to date back to the time of the Companions, may God be pleased with them, and covers an area of more than one acre. In 1150 AH, half of it was renovated and the other half, which contained the minaret, was rebuilt. Next to this mosque is the tomb of Sheikh Salama. In 1280 AH, it was completely renovated by Sheikh Mustafa al-Najjar, and lessons were held there.”
Protection of Islamic monuments
Dr. Abdul Rahim Rayhan, archaeologist, member of the History and Antiquities Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture, and head of the campaign to defend Egyptian civilization, said that the Supreme Council of Antiquities is responsible for the collapse of the historic minaret.
In exclusive comments to Bab Masr, he explained that this responsibility is based on Law No. 117 of 1983 on the protection of antiquities, amended by Law No. 20 of 2020, issued on March 18, 2020. He added: “The mosque is registered as a religious monument in the Samannoud Center, pursuant to Decision No. 10357 dated November 21, 1951, published in the Egyptian Gazette on December 17, 1951, Issue No. 115. The minaret is the last remaining part of the historic mosque.”
He emphasized that this responsibility comes from Article 29: “The Supreme Council of Antiquities is responsible for preserving registered monuments, museums, warehouses, archaeological sites, areas, and buildings. It also guards them through the competent police, guards, and private guards approved by it, in accordance with the rules governing this matter.”
Shared responsibility
Regarding the shared responsibility between the Ministries of Awqaf and Tourism and Antiquities for Islamic antiquities, Rayhan pointed out that the law grants the Supreme Council of Antiquities the authority to intervene to restore antiquities belonging to entities such as Awqaf. In the event of imminent danger and the unavailability of a budget allocated by the owner, the expenses shall be reimbursed at a later date.
He added that the council did not exercise this right in the case of the collapsed minaret, making it responsible for the accident. He cited Article 30: “The ministry responsible for endowments, the Egyptian Endowments Authority, the Coptic Endowments Authority, Egyptian churches, individuals, and other entities that own or possess registered archaeological or historical properties shall bear the costs of their restoration and maintenance. If the Council deems it necessary, this shall be done under its supervision.”
It continued: “In cases of imminent danger, the Council shall carry out the necessary restoration and maintenance work on the properties referred to. This shall be until the expenses are paid by the individuals or entities that own or hold the registered properties. The Council shall therefore bear full responsibility. This requires an immediate investigation into the non-application of Article 30 of the Antiquities Protection Law. In the event that the Endowments Authority does not allocate a budget for restoration, this led to the collapse of the minaret.
Who is responsible?
Bab Al-Masr contacted Dr. Jamal Mustafa, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Department at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, to inquire about the details of the technical committee’s findings regarding the causes of the mosque’s collapse. He also asked about the extent of any recent restoration or follow-up work, and the structural condition of the mosque prior to the collapse of the minaret. In addition to the current measures to protect what remains of the mosque and the possibility of its restoration or reconstruction.
However, Dr. Jamal Mustafa explained that he is currently outside Egypt and cannot respond. He referred us to Neveen Al-Aref, media advisor to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, who did not respond to our request.
Bab Al-Masr also contacted Engineer Tarek Shabana, general director of construction and head of the antiquities file at the Endowments Authority. He referred us to Engineer Ashraf Omar from the maintenance and restoration department of the engineering administration at the Endowments Authority.
Western Endowments Directorate
Engineer Ashraf told Bab Masr: “The Sidi Salama Mosque in Samannoud is affiliated with the Western Endowments Directorate, Samannoud and Mahalla al-Kubra Administration. The minaret was 27 meters high and collapsed onto part of an administrative building belonging to the Western Endowments Directorate.”
He added, “The entire file is with the engineering department of the Endowments Directorate in the Gharbia governorate, and each mosque has its own administration within the directorate.” Regarding the existence of an urgent plan to inventory and restore endangered historic mosques throughout Egypt, he explained, “This is being done through coordination between the Ministries of Endowments and Tourism and Antiquities. However, there are historic mosques that belong to us, such as those in the Darb al-Ahmar area. Some of these sites are owned by the Egyptian Endowments Authority.”
The role of antiquities inspectors
For his part, Dr. Abdel Hamid Al-Kafafi, former director general of planning and follow-up for the restoration of antiquities, said that the relationship between the ministries of endowments and antiquities remains complicated. He explained that the Ministry of Endowments often delays responding to requests for the restoration of antiquities under its supervision, despite the fact that they are already registered as antiquities.
Regarding the intertwined relationship between the two ministries, he explained to Bab Al-Masr: “There should be regular visits by inspectors of Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish antiquities on a weekly basis, depending on the location of each Islamic antiquity in the central Delta.”
He continued: “In the Delta region, there are antiquities inspectors in the areas of Mahalla and Samannoud who visit these antiquities to monitor any dangers, then report to the head of the Islamic Antiquities Sector, who in turn sends a letter to the Ministry of Endowments if the danger is severe.” This directive is based on Article 30 of the Antiquities Protection Law, Law 117 of 1983, as amended in 2018 and 2020.
Stages of assessing the danger to an antiquity
Al-Kafafi continued: “If the condition of the antiquity is very serious, and the Ministry of Endowments does not respond or does not have a budget to spend on Islamic antiquities, the Islamic Antiquities Department sends a letter to the Supreme Council of Antiquities, which in turn assesses the cost of restoration.”
The Islamic Antiquities Sector then takes on the task of spending through the Projects Sector, and the endowments are obliged to pay when financial resources become available. He added: “The endowments or the church are the owners of the antiquities, but they are registered and under the archaeological supervision of the Antiquities Authority, which is technical supervision only, but they are owned by the Ministry of Endowments.”
During the work of the antiquities inspector, the condition of the antiquity is determined, and there are three stages of danger:
1- Very high danger, where the condition of the antiquity cannot wait and must be dealt with immediately, either by averting the danger or by undertaking an immediate project, and the inspector requests an inspection of the antiquity by a highly specialized technical committee.
2- Medium risk.
3- No risk, where the artifact is in a non-dangerous condition, such as having cracks that do not threaten the artifact.
Islamic monuments in Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Hamza Al-Haddad, professor of archaeology and arts at the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, and former dean of the faculty, said that most Islamic monuments in Egypt are registered as endowments. He explained that there are two types of endowments: private, which belong to families and descendants, and charitable, whose proceeds are allocated to charitable works.
In exclusive comments to Bab Masr, Al-Haddad pointed out that when the Ministry of Endowments was established, both types of endowments were brought under its authority. This sparked legal disputes that continue to this day, especially on the part of charitable endowment owners who have filed lawsuits.
Problems with old waqfs
Al-Haddad explained that there are many problems related to old waqfs, especially those established by princes and sultans. The proceeds from these waqfs were supposed to be used for the maintenance of the historic buildings to which they belonged.
He added: “The aim of establishing the Supreme Council of Antiquities – whether when it was affiliated with the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, as it is currently – is to protect, maintain, and restore antiquities. This requires commitment from the owners, foremost among them the Endowments Authority, which is responsible for financing the restoration and preservation of these historical treasures.”
Constitutional and legal provisions
Al-Haddad addressed the legal aspects, explaining that Article 6 of Antiquities Law No. 117 of 1983 stipulates that all antiquities in Egypt are considered state property, with the exception of those that were endowed. He continued: “Article 7 of the executive regulations of the Antiquities Protection Law stipulates that antiquities shall be treated as public property. They are therefore subject to the provisions of the Penal Code and all relevant laws.“
He added: ”Article 30 of the same law confirms that the Supreme Council of Antiquities is the only body authorized to carry out maintenance and restoration work on antiquities. The Ministry of Endowments and the Egyptian Endowments Authority are responsible for the costs of restoring and maintaining antiquities under their jurisdiction.”
Article 105 of the executive regulations reinforces this responsibility. It grants the Supreme Council of Antiquities the right to compel the Ministry of Endowments to take the necessary measures, whether in relation to restoration or maintenance, or to strengthen security and develop security and protection systems. This is based on the report of the relevant technical committee and after approval by the board of directors of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Plan followed
Dr. Muhammad Hamza al-Haddad continued his remarks, saying, “The repeated violations against antiquities, including demolition, defacement, and attacks on archaeological sites, clearly reflect the extent of negligence and failure to fulfill responsibilities on the part of the relevant authorities.”
He added, “I was a member of the Supreme Council of Antiquities for six years. Throughout that period, we demanded that the Ministry of Endowments bear the costs of restoration, but the usual response was always that there was no budget available.”
He explained that the first step taken in such cases is to carry out emergency work by contracting a specialized company to assess the structural condition and determine the cost of restoration. These estimates are then sent to the Ministry of Endowments for approval of funding.
Shared responsibility
Al-Haddad stressed that the responsibility for preserving Islamic monuments, whether in terms of restoration, registration or protection, does not lie with one party. Rather, it is a collective responsibility shared by the Ministry of Endowments, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Permanent Committee and the Islamic Antiquities Sector.
He pointed out that the greatest risk is to the monuments in Cairo. Unlike other governorates and regions, including Upper Egypt, which are experiencing a lower rate of deterioration and collapse, most Islamic monuments are concentrated in Cairo. However, this does not mean that they are immune to danger.
Islamic antiquities in Samannoud
Dr. Abdel Rahim Rayhan, an archaeologist, quoted the coordinator of the “Defense of Civilization” campaign in Gharbia, writer Mustafa Abu Shamia, as saying that there are eight registered Islamic and Coptic archaeological sites in Samannoud. Among them is the collapsed minaret, which is:
- Church of the Virgin Mary and Martyr Abanoub: One of the stops of the Holy Family in the Delta. They stayed there for about 17 days, and it is registered among the Coptic monuments in Samannoud by Decree No. 309 of 2000.
- Qadi Hussein Mosque: Built by Sheikh Ibn Idris Qadi Hussein in the form of a small corner in the 11th century AH. It was expanded in 1837 and is registered under Decision No. 244 of 2000. According to his description, it suffers from serious neglect.
- The minaret of the Ismail al-Adawi Mosque: Attributed to Sheikh Ismail bin Muhammad bin Nasr Allah bin Yahya Daajan bin Khalaf bin Majli al-Adawi. It was built in 1191 AH/1777 AD and renovated by Ali Bek al-Badrawi in 1849 AD. It is registered under Decision No. 10357 of 1951.
- The minaret of the Mosque of Sidi Salama bin Naziha: It dates back to the 10th century AH. However, it was removed from the list of registered Islamic monuments in Al-Gharbia after it collapsed to the ground.
Also:
- The minaret of the Mosque of Al-Mutawali in Samannud: Attributed to Sheikh Abu Al-Hasan Al-Bakri and his son Abdul Raouf Al-Bakri. It dates back to the end of the 10th century AH and is registered under Decree No. 10357 of 1951.
- Younis Bath: One of the most important public baths on the coast. It was built by Hajj Younis Marri al-Taras in 1747 AD and became known as the “Bath of Younis’ Sons” after his death. It was then bought by Hajj Ibrahim Siraj and became known by his name. It is registered by Ministerial Decree No. 10357 of 1951.
- Ghoneim Palace: This palace is an example of the architectural style that prevailed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It follows the Rococo and Baroque styles and is characterized by symmetry in its facades.
- Al-Mutawali al-Kabir Mosque: Located in the village of Abu Sir in the center of Samannud, it dates back to the 11th century AH/17th century AD and is registered under Ministerial Decree No. 245 of 2000. It was on the verge of collapse until urgent intervention secured it with iron beams after it was included in the restoration plan.
Lack of coordination
Dr. Abdel Rahim Rayhan concluded his remarks by saying, “The Permanent Committee for Islamic, Jewish and Coptic Antiquities is responsible for issuing immediate restoration decisions, but it does not receive the necessary documents from the Islamic Antiquities Sector. How can it issue a decision without documentation? It has the right to summon the relevant sector and the Projects Sector to determine the danger and cost.”
He pointed out that in the event of a quick response, the Permanent Committee would hold the Islamic Antiquities Sector and the Projects Sector accountable and issue binding decisions in any case of danger, obliging the Endowments Ministry to bear the expenses. He added that the crisis of neglect is not limited to Samannoud or the Delta region, but is widespread in many areas of Upper Egypt and Cairo, where there are many neglected and endangered Islamic antiquities.
Budget for restoration
Dr. Abdel Hamid Al-Kafafi pointed out that many Islamic antiquities restoration projects are halted before they even begin due to insufficient funding from the Ministry of Endowments. This is an ongoing crisis affecting Islamic antiquities throughout Egypt, despite their large number and importance as part of the country’s architectural and religious heritage.
He added that there are individual attempts to finance some restoration projects from external sources. However, these initiatives remain limited and irregular. He stressed that what is lacking is effective and continuous coordination.
Expanded scientific committee
Al-Kafafi proposed the formation of an expanded scientific committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Endowments and Antiquities. Its task would be to review the condition of buildings at high risk and take urgent decisions on them, especially as some of these buildings are already closed and could collapse at any moment without real intervention.
He pointed out that many Islamic monuments in the Gharbia governorate are in need of restoration, such as the Jawish Baths, the Al-Ghouri Agency in Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra, and the Ghoneim Palace in Samannoud. He emphasized that these monuments are highly dangerous and require urgent work by companies specializing in restoration, not ordinary construction companies.
The archaeologist concluded by saying, “Restoring the collapsed minaret is still possible, provided that the stones and debris are not removed from the site of the accident. There are drawings and documents that can be used to accurately rebuild the damaged part.”
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