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LCHR call the Egyptian President to help the people of Qasr El Basel who face imprisonment and eviction out of their homes
Tens of thousands of families in Etsa villages are exposed to imprisonment and eviction out of their homes after believing the governmental promises to guarantee their right to housing.
These farmers built their homes in the desert on Egypt-Upper Egypt western desert road. They have settled and built their homes on these lands, especially in Qasr El Basel village and the villages surrounding it. The property administration used to collect rent from these farmers, 30 piasters for every meter they own. During the elections, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Public Property Administration have issued contracts of sale with different dates, in order for these farmers to own the lands, some of them paid parts of the land prices according to the signed contracts, but the governorate canceled these contracts without any reason, although some of the farmers have fully paid for the lands they own. The governorate declared the invalidity of these contracts, although these contracts were approved, signed and stamped by the Public Property Administration in Fayoum.
El Fayoum governor said that these contracts are delusive, and that they were only issued for the favor of Yousif Waly as electoral propaganda. The Public Property Administration has raised the rental value 160%, and demanded the farmers to pay the new rental value with retroactive effect, which mean that the farmers have to pay the new rental price since the beginning of their ownership, although some of them have already paid the full price of their land and have ownership contracts.
The farmers went with their complaints to the governor's office, and he transferred them to the officials at the Property Administration, but the official threw them out of his office and threatened them with imprisonment unless they pay the requested amou7nts of money.
Because of the hard conditions that these people face, they chose to live in desert areas, where there aren't any services, like electricity, transportation, hospitals, schools … etc. despite that, the state foundations chase after them and evict them out of their homes. According to the Egyptian constitution, the state is responsible of providing the people with suitable housing. The state must relieve these farmers from paying rental or ownership money as a guarantee to their right to settlement.
The LCHR demands El Fayoum governor and all relevant officials to perform their duties and fulfill their responsibilities to protect the families of Qasr El Basel village and the villages surrounding it from eviction, let the people own these desert lands where they have built their homes.
The LCHR presents the complaints of these farmers to the President to guarantee their rights to suitable housing and all kinds of care.
For more information, please contact the Center.