Luxor governor defends demolitions in the name of progress

He is a train and no one will stop him, said Samir Farag, the governor of Luxor as he defended the demolition of houses, shops, historic buildings, mosques and churches, “…anything that stands in the face of development”, all in the name of the Luxor Development Plan intended to make of the city the largest open air museum in the world.

Speaking at a symposium hosted by the Heliopolis Lions Club in Cairo, Farag  insisted that the development works being carried out in Luxor are approved by a committee chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, and filled with members from the Ministries of Culture, Housing, Investment, Irrigation, Administrative Development and Tourism.

The Luxor Development Plan has been heavily criticized by various opposition groups as a project carelessly and hastily managed, not following the proper procedures for archaeological excavations, and causing irreparable destruction to the modern history of Luxor.

The project is funded by UNESCO but sources say that even that agency is questioning the destruction it has already produced.

Source: ALMASRYALYOUM

Read also: The Rape of Luxor

Related posts:

1. The development plan for Luxor
2. Jane Akshar reports on the progress of Sphinx Avenue in Luxor
3. Luxor development plan: use the past to build its future
4. Update on the Corniche Development Project at Luxor
5. Residents sue over mega tourist port project in Luxor

Tags: GOVERNOR OF LUXOR, in the name of progress, Luxor, luxor governor, modern history of Luxor, Open-air museum, samir farag, the governor of luxor, UNESCO

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