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PHOTO GALLERY: Gov't move against illegal cafes in Downtown Cairo leaves many chairs empty



A group sitting at a cafe in downtown Cairo
Shishas lined up at a cafe in downtown Cairo
A waiter preparing drinks for customers at a cafe in downtown Cairo
A group of men smoking shisha at cafe in downtown Cairo
A cafe in downtown Cairo in the evening
A man and a woman converse at a cafe in downtown Cairo in the evening
A waiter holding drinks for customers at cafe in downtwon Cairo
A waiter preparing shisha for a customer in downtown Cairo
Two men sit at one of the downtown Cairo cafes
An empty cafe in downtown Cairo

Since November the interior ministry and municipal workers have started a campaign to close tens of unlicensed cafes in downtown Cairo as a step to restore both order in the streets as well as the "glory" of old Downtown Cairo.

The government also moved hundreds of street vendors who packed downtown streets and sidewalks for years to the outskirts of the area.

Street vendors or growing number of cafes according to official statements .

The downtown cafes represent a popular and cheap attraction in the heart of the city for youth searching for fun and entertainment over tea and shisha.

Photos: Mai Shaheen

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