Sharjah Ruler donates US$2m for families of Egyptian martyrs

Sharjah, Aug 22, 2013 (WAM) - H. H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has donated US$2 million for Egypt's committee to assist families of martyrs. In a phone call to Egyptian ONTV's morning show, H.H Sheikh Sultan said, "What happened to Egypt was the result of a plot that was carried out in 40 years to spread ignorance, hunger and obliterate history through the destruction of Egyptian antiquities and the torching of all documents, in addition to selling parts of Egypt to those who pay the highest price in this sabotage." In his remarks in the phone call, the Ruler of Sharjah also urged Egyptians to "remain loyal to their revolution because Egypt is the pillar of the efforts which succeeded in stopping the barbaric assault." He also re-affirmed that the UAE people and the leadership stand by Egypt, noting that Egypt in the past send teachers to the Gulf region despite the financial difficulties the country went through at the time. Sheikh Sultan also urged the Grand Sheikh of Egypt's Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, to put mosques under the supervision of Awqaf (endowment authorities) and noted that Awqaf is responsible for building the new mosques that he ordered yesterday. On Tuesday, H.H Sheikh Sultan ordered the construction of mosques in villages located in the border town of Rafah, north of Sinai, Egypt. The mosques will be named after the martyrs who died in Rafah in the act of terrorism that led to the death of 25 Egyptian soldiers earlier this week. According to Sheikh Sultan's orders, each one of the mosques will be named after a martyr and constructed in their respective hometowns and villages. He also called on Egyptian institutions, dramatists and authors not to distort the image of their country in their TV series and plays which pictures it as a centre for corruption and urged them to produce works that reflect the real image of Egypt as an ancient civilisation, culture and long history. H.H Sheikh Sultan also hailed the 30 June revolution and the role of the Egyptian Armed Forces and Police in protecting Egypt and thereby protecting the very existence of the Arab Nation. In November 2012, Sheikh Sultan donated a large collection of original rare manuscripts, maps and books of more than 7000 titles to the Egyptian Scientific Academy in Cairo. The announcement was made at the 31st Sharjah International Book Fair. The donation which is from Sheikh Sultan s personal collections, is part of the efforts to make up for the losses sustained by the Cairo library which burned down in November last year. He made note of his pledge in December 2011 to rebuild the Scientific Complex in Cairo that was partially destroyed by fire during the riots at the time. He also pledged to donate rare manuscripts, maps, and a book titled "Describing Egypt" to the National Archives of Egypt that were burnt earlier this week during the riots. Also Yesterday, Sheikh Sultan donated US$2 million for repairs and equipment at the Cairo University's Faculty of Engineering, which was severely damaged by a fire during the dispersion of protestors in al-Nahda Square this month. As well as the new mosques, modern houses and public parks to be constructed for the residents of 18 slums in Giza City at the expense of Sheikh Sultan. The donation was one of a series of initiatives launched by Sheikh Sultan in support of Egypt and its people during the on-going crisis. In yesterday's interview with Channel One TV, he noted that there was no satisfactory response to development plans he proposed during the tenure of former President Hosni Mubarak to build education facilities for homeless people in the city. He emphasised that these slums should be removed. – Emirates News Agency, WAM