CAIRO: The threatened community of Qursaya was given fresh support by artist and resident of the island Mohamed Abla Wednesday. Abla had made and presented a documentary about the residents of the Island, who are currently threatened with eviction by authorities which claim that the Island's houses rest on ancient Pharaonic ruins. However, residents and other human rights groups claim the real reason is more sinister and involves an aim to turn the Island into a tourist resort.Over 600 people turned up to take part in a conference, which was held to give the families a chance to express their views as a group. Residents dug symbolic graves to convey their refusal of the decision, saying "they'd rather bury themselves alive than be turfed out. According to sources, police allowed them to participate in the conference without interference.Since many of the residents have records of contracts and licenses proving legal land purchase and ownership deeds for their buildings, the authorities must find them alternative housing if they insist on removing them from the land. But this is where the problem lies. According to one of the residents, housing has been offered in areas such as 6th of October. But the people of Qursaya have intimate bonds with the Island, with land deeds of some families going back 150 years. What is more, residents make a living from farming and fishing, and so without the Nile, many fear they will lose their livelihood.Human Rights groups, including the Centre for Housing Rights, and the Al-Hillali Legal Institute and an advocacy group called the Anti-Corruption Association intend to raise a case in court pending availability of legal records from residents.Hoda Rashad from the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights told Daily News Egypt that lawyers representing the residents have already filed a complaint at the State Council demanding the implementation of a Prime Ministerial decree regarding Geziret El Dahab (Gold Island).In 2001 PM Ahmed Nazif decreed that residents on Gold Island which sits south of Al Qursaya in Giza will not be evicted from their homes following an outcry and massive demonstrations by residents and public figures like film director Youssef Chahine.
