The UNESCO World Heritage Committee revealed that Egypt has submitted a request for a "minor modification" to the borders of historic Cairo during its 45th session held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

A UNESCO spokesperson told Al Jazeera that Egypt had told UNESCO that "no road was built within the borders, and there was no demolition of any historical cemeteries or shrines."

The spokesperson pointed out that the World Heritage Committee asked Egypt to review its request, based on the recommendation of experts who analyzed the request in more detail about the characteristics of the properties, maps and changes, which have affected the safety of the property since its registration.

The Committee also requested the State party to invite an expert advisory mission to the site, with a view to examining the proposed new boundaries, before submitting an amendment request based on the mission's advice.

The UNESCO spokesman added that "the committee may consider the request for border adjustment after the completion of these steps."

The Bab Misr website, which is concerned with the preservation of Egyptian heritage, said in a report on September 26 that UNESCO refused during its last meeting to respond to the Egyptian government's request to "reduce the area of historic Cairo, which is included within the borders of UNESCO."

The World Heritage Committee adopted the State of Conservation Report for Historic Cairo, which highlighted Egypt's historical and national responsibility towards what it described as a "unique World Heritage Site."

Historic Cairo Space

The World Heritage Committee expressed concern about reports revealed by other parties and the media regarding the road built in Cairo's historic cemeteries north and south, a spokesman for the organization told Al Jazeera.

UNESCO confirmed that it had requested "urgent technical information" on any major project in the historic area, while noting that "the legal framework for the demolition of protected monuments remains unclear, and the organization asked for clarification."

The Egyptian government did not officially respond to what activists said was "the organization's rejection of its request to reduce the area of historic Cairo," amid praise for the committee's decision, which reserved the Egyptian government's request in the "state of conservation reports submitted by the states parties" on its official website.

Blogger Ibrahim al-Khouli described UNESCO's decision as "a victory for the historic cemetery". Blogger Rasha Abdellatif commented, "Thank God UNESCO refused."

Demolition work continues at the tombs of Sayyida Nafisa and Imam Shafi'i as part of the plan to develop historical #القاهرة amid fears that they will spread to historical shrines pic.twitter.com/WPFO1TUdvt

— Al Jazeera Egypt (@AJA_Egypt) August 24, 2023

Blogger Wael Abbas wrote on his X account, "People are usually happy when UNESCO adds a need to human heritage, but we discover that our country is asking UNESCO to reduce the area of historic Cairo! We get rid of our history, no and the request is rejected! It came from foreigners and it wasn't from you."

People are usually happy
when UNESCO adds something to their human
heritage, and we discover that our country is asking UNESCO
to reduce the area of historic Cairo!!
We'll get rid of our history!!
No, and the request was rejected!
It came from foreigners or from you!

— Wael Abbas 𓏲𓂝������ 𓄜𓃀𓂝𓊃 Wael Abbas (@waelabbas) September 26, 2023

While others criticized the announcement by a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, on September 6, that the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers approved the nomination of former Minister of Tourism, Khaled Al-Anani, as an Arab candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO, for the period 2025 to 2029, despite the demolition of historical tombs.

The Council of Arab Foreign Ministers approves the nomination of Dr. Khaled Al-Anani as an Arab candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO for the period 2025-2029, as part of the approval of the endorsement of Arab candidacies for a number of international positions. pic.twitter.com/wuL8i35Yh5

— Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) September 6, 2023

Uncle of the ruler, by his order, you made an administrative capital with the largest mosque, the largest church, the largest flagpole and the largest... and bigger.....
Okay, leave Cairo with its history for us.. In its mosques. In its graves. With its effects. Isn't it a request at UNESCO to reduce historic Cairo!!
You are the limit of your authority over us.... https://t.co/EYyyyYDmkF

— Samir Al Arki (@s_alaraki) September 28, 2023

Withdraw the candidacy of the Minister of Antiquities for the elections of the Director of UNESCO, I honor you and him, and I do not say to Egypt, who is fit to run in its name cannot be the one who demolished historic Cairo under his occupation, and did not keep silent, but blessed.
_
___ during the Riyadh meeting. UNESCO refuses to reduce the area of "historic Cairo" https://t.co/7mcDbBtwuj

— Ammar Ali Hassan (@ammaralihassan) September 27, 2023

In recent years, the Egyptian authorities have adopted decisions to remove tombs that house a number of writers, intellectuals and some other historical symbols, despite dozens of parliamentary briefings, and the state of popular discontent rejecting the order, in light of the documentation of damage by researchers and heritage specialists.

The Egyptian government denied in a statement, in late May, what it described as "allegations of carrying out a comprehensive campaign to demolish ancient tombs," noting that all archaeological tombs "exist as they are, and cannot be touched," as they are subject to the Antiquities Protection Law No. 117 of 1983, which criminalizes any act that destroys or destroys a monument.