By Coptic Solidarity –
The demolition of agricultural land affiliated with the Monastery of Archangel Gabriel in Fayoum has sparked controversy and raised questions over the consistency of state enforcement, following the removal of long-cultivated land and the injury of a monk during the operation.
Long-Standing Dispute Over Land Status
The incident concerns a farm located outside the monastery walls in the Naqloun area, near the village of Qalamshah, within the jurisdiction of New Fayoum City. The land, estimated at approximately 41 feddans, had been cultivated by the monastery’s monks for over two decades.
According to available information, the monastery had previously submitted requests to legalize its status under Egyptian law, including applications dating back to 2005 and 2017. These requests reportedly remained unresolved at the time of the demolition.
Under Egyptian regulations, individuals or entities cultivating desert land for a prolonged period (typically 15 years) may seek ownership regularization, subject to approval by the competent authorities.
Demolition Campaign amid Security Presence
The demolition was carried out by the New Urban Communities Authority, under the Ministry of Housing, pursuant to official removal orders targeting alleged encroachments on state-owned land. The operation formed part of broader state efforts to reclaim public land.
Security forces from the Fayoum Security Directorate were deployed to oversee the execution, accompanied by officials from the Authority. Prior to reaching the monastery’s farm, authorities had implemented demolition orders on neighboring plots measuring 28, 31, and 7 feddans, owned by private individuals.
When authorities moved to enforce the demolition order concerning the monastery’s farm (issued on September 2, 2025), a number of monks objected, citing their pending legalization requests. This led to limited verbal confrontations, which were subsequently contained without escalation into violence.
Church sources indicated that the relevant diocese had been informed in advance of the operation, and representatives were present on site to help manage tensions and facilitate compliance.
Injury of a Monk
During the execution of the demolition, a monk identified as Domadios sustained a foot fracture after being struck by demolition equipment. The injury was described as accidental, occurring amid movement and congestion at the site. He was transferred to hospital for treatment, with reports indicating that the sandy ground helped mitigate the severity of the impact.
In an official statement, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Fayoum confirmed that the demolition was carried out pursuant to a ministerial decision concerning agricultural land outside the monastery’s walls. The statementknowledged that initial objections had been raised but noted that all parties ultimately complied and the removal was completed.
The Diocese—visibly seeking appeasement of Coptic public opinion—urged caution regarding information circulated on social media, warning against unverified claims that could undermine public order.
Concerns Over Selective Enforcement
The incident has drawn criticism from observers, who question why the monastery’s applications to regularize ownership under existing regulations remained unaddressed, and why demolition orders affecting its land were enforced while other nearby plots with reportedly similar legal status were left untouched.
Calls have been made for an investigation into what has been described as “selective enforcement,” with advocates stressing that equal application of the law is essential to maintaining public confidence.
Following the incident, Bishop Anba Abram of Fayoum visited the monastery and later the injured monk in hospital, expressing support and discussing the situation with the monastic community.
Monastery representatives indicated that they intend to continue pursuing legal avenues, including renewing regularization requests, challenging administrative decisions before the administrative courts, and submitting grievances to the relevant authorities.
