The heroes of this story are the farmers of the village of Izbat Rashwan, of Beni Suef governorate. The farmers of the village, who have been living in the village for several centuries, are living in a permanent conflict with the Ministry of Awaqf over the houses which they own and live in since the grandfathers of their grandfathers.
On the other side, the representatives of the Ministry of Awaqf play the evil part, as they abuse the use of their powers, and beat, threaten and trick the poor farmers and pull them to court, on the charge of trespassing of the houses of the Ministry of Awaqf. Despite the fact that the farmers live in the houses and own them for more than one hundred years before the Ministry of Awaqf was even established!!
Since 1995, the farmers of the village of Izbat Rashwan suffer from the arbitrariness of the Ministry of Awaqf, which seized their houses under the claim that the Ministry owns them. The farmers were arrested, detained, and imprisoned as criminals until the LCHR, after the issuance of a court ruling stipulating the unconstitutionality of the seizure of the houses of the farmers, was able to stop the seizure. After, a temporary period of truce between the farmers and the Ministry of Awaqf, the Ministry of Awaqf filed lawsuits demanding rental for the houses. These lawsuits were referred to the experts of the Ministry of Justice, after the Court was convinced that there were no lease contracts singed by the farmers and the Ministry of Awaqf. The Ministry of Awaqf did not submit any legal documents that indicate its ownership of the village.
A month ago, the representatives of the Ministry of Awaqf, with the help of the police, arrested the farmers and detained them on the charge of trespassing on the property of others. Several lawsuits were filed against each farmer for trespassing on the property of others. Each farmer is sentenced to a month of imprisonment, 100 pounds bail, and ordered to evacuate the building and hand it to the Ministry of Awaqf.
If the farmer was not able to pay the bail immediately, he has to pay a 10% fine for each day of delay !!!!
The LCHR submitted the complaints of the farmers to the Attorney General and Minister of Awqaf, demanding that they make the Ministry of Awaqf withdraw it lawsuits against the farmers and stop the violation of their rights to safe housing and to live freely and safely.
The Center calls upon the civil society organizations in Beni Suef, the Bar Association, and members of both houses of parliament to unite in solidarity with the farmers of the village of Izbat Rashwan, for the sake of respecting the obligations of the State and to ensure the economic and social rights of citizens.
For more information please contact the Center.

Back to List