Culture Ministry halts activities mourning causalities of church fire
Egyptian Culture Ministry, under the helm of newly-appointed minister Nevine El-Kilany, has announced late Sunday a three-day delay for public activities, mourning the causalities of the massive fire that broke out early morning at a church in Giza’s Imbaba.
Egyptian police gather outside the Abu Sifin church located in the densely populated Imbaba neighbourhood west of the Nile river, part of Giza governorate, on August 14, 2022. AFP
Sunday evening was supposed to witness the opening of the 30th edition of the Citadel Festival for Music and Singing at the historic citadel of Salah Al-Din, but it was delayed to Tuesday.
At least 41 people died and 14 were injured at the Coptic Orthodox Church of Abu Sefein Church in Giza’s Imbaba district, with many children among the victims due to the presence of a nursery inside the church.
The cultural activities’ halt is among the first decisions of El-Kilany who is among 13 new ministers in the cabinet of Mostafa Madbouly. The swear-in was witnessed by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi earlier on Sunday at the presidential palace in New Alamein city.
Nevine El-Kilany, who is dean of the Higher Institute of Art Criticism at the Academy of Arts, has a Ph.D. in art criticism from the Academy of Arts in 1995. She also earned her Ph.D. from the Egyptian Higher Institute of Ballet in 2000.
Also served as head of the cultural development fund affairs sector at the Ministry of Culture, El-Kilany is succeeding ex-minister Ines Abdel-Dayem.
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