This year coincides with the 800th anniversary of Sultan al Zaher Baybars. Al-Malik al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Bunduqdari (ruled from 1260-1277), commonly known as Baybars, was the fourth Mamluk sultan of the Bahri dynasty (1250-1382) of Egypt and Syria. He was of Turkic Kipchak origin.
Baybars was famous for his military and diplomatic intelligence. He had a major role in changing the political and military map in the Mediterranean region.
As one of the commanders of the Egyptian forces, he defeated the Seventh Crusade of King Louis IX of France. He also played a role in the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, which marked the first substantial collapse of the Mongols and is considered a turning point in history.
His mosque in El Zaher district of Cairo is expected to be open in a few weeks following 16 years of restoration jointly funded by Egypt and Kazakhstan.
Mostafa Waziry, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) told The Egyptian Gazette hat the mosque was built in 1269. It consists of an open courtyard surrounded by four iwans, of which the largest is the qibla iwan. It is surrounded by a ditch and a sloping rampart, which were recently added to protect the mosque since its foundations are lower level than today’s street level.
Until the 16th century the mosque was a place of prayer, but later it fell into neglect and the Ottomans used it as an arsenal.
In 2007, the SCA started the restoration process, which cost LE166 million.
He added that the restoration included reconstructing the ruined parts of the mosque, stabilising the water table, renewing the marble columns and restoring its distinctive architectural elements.
Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Lama Sharif told The Gazette that one of the important joint projects in Egyptian-Kazakh bilateral relations is the restoration of the Sultan Baybars Mosque.
“It is a revival of the heritage of the great son of Kazakhstan, which has become a symbol of historical Kazakh-Egyptian ties,” the ambassador said, adding that a number of high-ranking officials and VIPs from Kazakhstan will be attending the reopening of the mosque.
There are many Mamluk monuments in Egypt — mosques, khanqahs (Sufi monasteries) and mausolea, he said.
“The number of Kazakh tourists visiting Egypt is 150,000 tourists per year. They visit Red sea resort towns like Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh in addition to the Pyramids of Giza,” he added.
With the reopening of the Sultan Baybars mosque, “the number of Kazakh tourists will be doubled or tripled”, the ambassador said.
“There will be a new map for Kazakh visitors showing Mamluk monuments such as Qalauwn complex in Moez Street, the 14th century Amir Sayf al-Din Bashtak Palace and Sultan Al-Nasr Mohamed Mosque inside the Cairo Citadel,” he added.
On March 1, the Kazakh Embassy in cooperation with the SCA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports organised a cleaning campaign in a number of Mamluk monuments such as Emir Qurqumas Complex built in 1507 in Medieval Cairo.
Some 150 Kazakh students at Al-Azhar and in other Egyptian universities in addition to Egyptian youth took part in the campaign. The event coincided with the Thanksgiving Day in Kazakhstan.
