Egyptian NGO Files Lawsuit to End Major Events at Great Pyramids

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights asserts that sound systems could destabilize stones making up the Great Pyramids of Giza.

The Great Pyramids of Giza have become a popular backdrop for raves in recent years, but the party could be over if a lawsuit by the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) holds any weight.

According to the administrative court filing, the non-government organization argues that “loud nighttime concerts” on the Great Pyramids’ protected site are tantamount to “unauthorized activities.” It cites concerns that the “high-frequency vibrations” of sound systems are “capable of destabilizing the ancient stone structures,” and it also condemns “laser lighting systems that do not comply with international standards for illumination at heritage sites.”

The lawsuit arrives mere days after Anyma played his first-ever show at the Great Pyramids, a brand-new event concept called Quantum Genesis. Organizers P+US, MODAD, and Venture Lifestyle promised “captivating visuals, custom lighting and sensational production.” Video circulating after the gathering shows lasers brightly fanning out from temporary installations that look monumental in their own right.

Other artists have performed with the Great Pyramids as a backdrop, to be sure. Carl Cox, Aly & Fila, and Keinemusik have all headlined events held on the UNESCO heritage site. IQ Magazine reports that Serbia’s EXIT Festival is working out the details of the first multiple-day, multiple-stage festival there.

The Egyptian government has not publicly addressed the lawsuit at the time of writing. It has previously taken outcry over potential violations of the site protections seriously, calling off plans to install granite cladding around one of the Great Pyramids, Menkaure, after receiving backlash last year.

The ECESR is asking Egyptian authorities to suspend all concerts and events on the archaeological sanctuary, also calling for a review of active contracts with private companies to ensure no misuse of public funds.