Egypt repatriates seven ancient Egyptian artefacts from France - Ancient Egypt
Egypt has repatriated seven ancient Egyptian artefacts that were seized by French authorities in January after they thwarted their sale by a group of traffickers.
The handover occurred at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
In coordination with the State Lawsuits Authority, the Ministries of Tourism and Antiquities, and Foreign Affairs ensured Egypt's participation as a civil party in the legal case over ownership of the artefacts.
A court in Paris recently ruled in favour of Egypt, convicting the defendants and awarding €23,000 in financial compensation.
The artefacts were subsequently handed over to the Egyptian Embassy in Paris in March, paving the way for their return to Egypt.
Among the recovered items are a wooden statue of the god Anubis in his jackal form, a votive coffin, two wooden human hands, a terracotta figurine, and three small papyrus scrolls.
Egyptian archaeological experts are currently examining the artefacts, which will be included in a forthcoming exhibition at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy praised the operation as a victory for Egypt's ongoing campaign to reclaim its stolen heritage.
"This recovery represents another success for Egypt's cultural diplomacy and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our national heritage," he said. 'Each artifact we recover is a piece of our identity and historical memory that we are returning to its rightful place. Our work will continue in cooperation with international partners to protect and preserve our heritage for future generations.'
The minister also commended the strong collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the effective coordination with French authorities as key to the operation's success.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the historical importance of the recovered objects, noting that a detailed archaeological and technical report is underway.
He also confirmed that Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation to identify all those responsible for smuggling the artefacts out of Egypt.
Meanwhile, Shaaban Abdel Gawad, Director General of the Department for Antiquities Repatriation, highlighted the significance of the artefacts and stressed that the ministry remains committed to tracking down and reclaiming other looted pieces worldwide.
This latest recovery underscores Egypt's broader strategy to combat the illicit trafficking of antiquities and strengthen international cooperation under agreements such as the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
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