Famous for selling old books in downtown Alexandria, Al-Nabi Danial is being cleared. Nesmahar Sayed talks to some perturbed residents Al-Nabi Danial is one of the oldest streets in downtown Alexandria, linking Misr Railway Station in the south and Al-Raml Station in the north. Yet it has always been more than just a street for it has linked cultures, languages and people. It was once a lovely promenade for Alexandrians and visitors where affordable books in kiosks were the main attraction. Like many main streets in Egypt, intruding street vendors found their way in, looking for a place to sell their merchandise. As the governorate took drastic measures to clear the streets, some kiosks were ruined on the way and books were scattered on the pavement. Hani Shehata, 35, who has been selling books in the "Books Street" as it has been called for 20 years, says that selling books is a family business for the 48 vendors who inherited it from their ancestors. Shehata describes the street as being the main venue for culture in the Mediterranean city for more than 40 years. He described the recent attack on the book vendors from the security forces as a big mistake. "We were very happy with the new attitude of the security forces in removing the street vendors and cleaning the main squares in Alexandria. But we were shocked to find that they had removed the book kiosks that were built in the southern direction of the street, near Al-Nabi Danial Mosque, at 3am", Shehata told Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that they should not be treated as the average street vendor who invaded most of Alexandria's streets after the 25 January Revolution. "We have legal papers issued for us in 2004, when Mohamed Abdel-Salam Al-Mahgoub was the governor of Alexandria," Shehata said. Hala Boraai has lived in Al-Nabi Danial Street for 25 years. "The street has always been famous for interesting cheap books, but during the last 10 years, it has changed much. Street vendors selling all kinds of goods have invaded the area and their behaviour has changed its special nature. That's why, according to Boraai, the street was no longer the same and her family had to move to a quieter district. There is more to the vendors than just selling cheap books, as argued by Hussein Sallam, who has been selling books in Al-Nabi Danial for the past 25 years and has established Al-Nabi Danial Association for Saving Books. "The association helps in improving the cultural atmosphere of Alexandria and the Northern governorates," Salam said. It is also responsible for the 48 book vendors on that street. "In our association we try to help the vendors and their families receive medical care. We also try to open markets for them by organising book fairs in universities in Alexandria and other governorates," Salam added. Salama believes that the only way out of the current crisis is to find a legal solution to allow the book vendors to remain on street. "We have been working with the governorate and the district council for two years and we are waiting for them to fulfil their promise to finalise the licence and necessary papers and designs for the kiosks to maintain a cultural and civilised appearance of the street," said Salama.
