Zahi Hawass: Our case in demanding the return of Egyptian antiquities from European museums is just

Yasser El-Ghobeiry and Ahmed Sawan

Dr. Zahi Hawass said in response to a question, “The case that I am presenting for the recovery of Egyptian antiquities is a just cause. In 2010, I sent letters to the Louvre Museum, the British Museum, and the Berlin Museum, requesting them to loan their unique Egyptian artifacts for display in the Grand Egyptian Museum as a kind of expression of cooperation between these museums and Egypt, but these museums completely rejected, which expresses the arrogance of these museums.”

“When we tracked these artifacts and the way they left Egypt, we found that they all came out illegally. This case was presented years ago and demanded the return of Egyptian antiquities. In response to those who say that Egypt did not have museums to protect antiquities, I say to them now in Egypt we have the greatest museums in the world, and we have the right to return these unique artifacts to Egypt. I say that we want to restore our antiquities, and our cause for their return is a just one. When I was in the government, I demanded the return of Nefertiti’s bust. I demand the return of our antiquities. When we see the Obelisk of Ramses in Paris, I say that you have the obelisk, but we want the [Dendera] zodiac back and for this unique piece to return to its home.”

The famed Egyptologist’s remarks came during the symposium of the Center for Middle East Studies (CEMO) in Paris, which was organized on Friday, April 7, at the historic Hotel de Crillon overlooking the Pharaonic obelisk, under the title “Egypt: The Dawn of Conscience”.

Egypt’s former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass, and journalist Abdelrahim Ali, director of CEMO in Paris, spoke at the symposium, which was also attended by Egyptian Ambassador to France Alaa Youssef, a group of editors-in-chief of French newspapers, a number of French parliamentarians, as well as a number of senior politicians and Egyptologists. The descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Joachim Murat, and his wife, Princess Yasmine, were also in attendance, in addition to former ministers, senior French writers and intellectuals, led by Gilbert Sinoué.

The symposium was also attended by Pierre Lellouche, former Minister of European Affairs; the great Arab poet Adunis; Yves Thréard, deputy editor-in-chief of Le Figaro; Jean-Sébastien Ferjou, editor-in-chief of Atlantico; and French Senator Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio.

The symposium was held on the sidelines of the Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs Exhibition, which kicked off on Thursday, April 6, in Paris and will continue for five months in the French capital.