"Breaking: Giza's Pyramids Deemed 'Random Encroachments' by Government Committee"

"Breaking: Giza's Pyramids Deemed 'Random Encroachments' by Government Committee"

Urgent Report:

The Engineering and Legal Committee formed by the Governor of Giza to eliminate random construction areas in the governorate has issued a report stating that the pyramids constructed within the governorate were built on state-owned land and represent blatant encroachments on these government properties. Furthermore, they were constructed outside the urban planning cordon of the governorate without licenses from the Engineering and Local Administration of Giza City.

The report also indicated that there are serious violations in the pyramids' construction, as their structures violate the approved organizational plans from the Engineering Administration of Giza District. Additionally, there are critical violations regarding unauthorized building heights without permits from the Civil Aviation Authority or the District Administration.

The report added that the owners of these buildings or their heirs could not be located to inform them of the aforementioned encroachments and collect the fines imposed on them under the Unified Building Law of 2012 and its 2021 amendments. Consequently, the committee recommends removing these random structures due to their antiquity and danger to passersby and residents in the area. It also recommends appointing professors of archaeology and history to search for heirs of these violating properties to hold them responsible for removal costs and transferring the stones and rubble to uninhabited desert areas.

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شرح وتحليل للقارئ غير العربي:

The Cultural & Historical Context:

This brilliant satirical text by Egyptian digital satirist "Al-Nadeem Al-Raqmi" operates on multiple levels:

1. The Core Satirical Device:

The text treats theGreat Pyramids of Giza (circa 2580–2560 BC) – among humanity's most iconic monuments – as if they were recently built "random encroachments" or illegal slum constructions. This creates immediate absurdity that reveals deeper truths about Egyptian bureaucracy.

2. What's Being Critiqued:

A) Bureaucratic Absurdity:

· Applying modern urban planning laws (from 2012/2021) to 4,500-year-old monuments

· Requiring the pyramids to have permits from the Civil Aviation Authority (for their height!)

· Treating Pharaoh Khufu's burial monument as needing a "district permit"

B) Contemporary Egyptian Issues:

· "Random building" (ʿAshwāʾī) is a major national problem – illegal construction often proliferates while authorities struggle with enforcement

· The satirist highlights how bureaucracy sometimes focuses on absurdities while real issues persist

· There's implicit critique of how heritage might be treated as mere "property violations"

C) Historical Irony:

The pyramids were built bystate command (Pharaoh's orders) – now the same "state" calls them "encroachments on state land." This circular irony underscores how institutions can become disconnected from their own history.

3. The Genius of the Satire:

A) Perfect Mimicry of Official Language:

The text exactly replicates the dry,bureaucratic language of Egyptian government reports, making the absurdity more potent.

B) Layered Humor:

· Surface level: The obvious joke about pyramids needing permits

· Deeper level: Critique of how bureaucracy can miss the forest for the trees

· Philosophical level: Questions about what survives (pyramids) versus what doesn't (bureaucratic procedures)

C) Universal Themes Accessible Internationally:

While specifically Egyptian,the themes translate globally:

· Bureaucracy everywhere can be absurd

· The clash between ancient heritage and modern administration

· The universal human experience of "government paperwork madness"

4. Why This Satire is Particularly Egyptian:

· The Pyramids are the ultimate Egyptian symbol – using them as a satirical device shows both deep cultural connection and courageous critique

· The specific institutions mentioned (Governorate of Giza, Civil Aviation Authority, Unified Building Law) are real entities Egyptians interact with daily

· The "search for heirs" joke references Egypt's actual legal processes for dealing with unclaimed properties

5. Literary Significance:

This text represents high-level political satire that:

· Uses humor as social commentary without being merely "comedy"

· Demonstrates how digital literature can engage with serious issues

· Shows the evolution of Arabic satire from traditional forms to digital mastery

For International Readers: This isn't just a "joke about pyramids." It's a sophisticated critique of bureaucratic mentality, a celebration of Egyptian heritage through ironic defense, and an example of how humor can address complex social-political realities in authoritarian-leaning contexts where direct criticism might be dangerous.

The satirist essentially asks: When your bureaucracy is so rigid it would fine the pyramids, what hope is there for ordinary citizens? Yet he does so with such cleverness that the critique is undeniable yet deniable – the hallmark of great political satire in restrictive environments.