Hundreds of protesters in the villages of Damrou, Kafr-Damrou and Shobra-Nabat in Gharbiya staged demonstrations against government attempts to force them to evacuate their homes. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters, who, it was alleged, had built their houses on land belonging to the Ministry of Awqaf (religious endowments). Eight were injured in the clashes and had to be taken to hospital.
"We paid rent for more than ten years to the Agricultural Reform Authority when the land used to belong to it," said Mohamed el-Nashawi. "It is not our problem that ownership of the land transferred to the Ministry of Awqaf."
"The security forces ordered us to pay LE30,000 or they would force us out of our homes," said Mosaad Abdallah.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
