Egypt.. Widespread Anger After the Demolition of the House Designated for Tax Collection During Muhammad Ali's Era

SadaNews - The residents of Suez expressed their discontent following the demolition of the house of Butrus Kassab, one of the oldest historical buildings in the governorate, which was established during the era of Muhammad Ali.

The house was owned by Butrus Kassab, who was responsible for collecting taxes from maritime routes between Egypt and India, and it remained a witness to a long and significant history of the city.

Residents were astonished to see heavy machinery demolishing the historic house, which is currently owned by a shipping company affiliated with the Ministry of Transport, amid calls to preserve what remains of the historical buildings in Suez.

Anwar Fathallah, a historian and researcher in the history of Suez, stated that the house of Butrus Kassab is among the rare historical palaces, noting that its owner was responsible for collecting taxes from navigation between Egypt and India during Muhammad Ali's era. He pointed out that some historical accounts mentioned that Napoleon Bonaparte passed through the area where the house is located, and that the leader Ahmed Urabi visited the house upon his return from exile.

Anwar Fathallah clarified that the house was nationalized during President Gamal Abdel Nasser's era and was owned by a shipping company. However, it suffered years of neglect until it ended up being demolished, despite having withstood the Tripartite Aggression and various wars for many years. He noted that it featured European architectural style and decorations and commemorative marble plaques bearing the name of its owner.

The researcher added that it is essential to preserve the remaining historical buildings in Suez, such as the Al-Muhammad Ali Palace and the Al-Masajiri House, emphasizing the need to transfer these facilities to the Ministry of Antiquities to protect them from extinction.

Dr. Mustafa Barakat, a researcher in Islamic archaeology, mentioned that Empress Eugenie, during her visit to Suez for the inauguration of the Suez Canal, requested to visit the house where Napoleon Bonaparte stayed, pointing out that the house witnessed many historical meetings, including hosting leader Ahmed Urabi after his return from exile.