Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh, has always been controversial and continues to do so. This time the problem is neither the cemetery nor the reasons for his death is his treasure itself is in question. For nearly seven years, 131 antique pieces that are part of the treasure of the young king move between the different customs airports and showrooms in several countries including Australia, the United States and various European countries. Voices anxious about the Egyptian heritage stood recently in Egypt for the return of the treasure, for fear the loss of parts or their falsification. While some are against the departure of the Egyptian pieces abroad, others on the contrary encourage the idea. This not only through the enormous income gains of Egypt by the amounts paid insurance, but also to free communication for the Egyptian tourism, prompting tourists to visit the country indirectly to watch thousands of other antique pieces in their original context.
The story actually began when Dr. Noureddine Abdel- Samad , CEO of archaeological sites, filed a lawsuit against Zahi Hawas , Minister of State for Antiquities at the time for holding the exhibition of Tutankhamen in many countries, containing unique pieces of the treasure of the young pharaoh, which constitutes a violation of the law 117/1983 ratified by Law 3 / 2010, which provides the opportunity to expose only the parts repeated. Another offense took place: the signing of the contract of an exhibition with the National GeographicSociety because contracts must be signed between governments and not between companies or organizations.
The record of exhibitions abroad is not new. It goes back many years and the case came Tutankhamun lance the boil. In 1993, a lawsuit was filed by writerNeemat Ahmad Fouad, Abdel-Hamid Zayed and Mohsen Khalil against Abdel-Halim Nureddin , who was at that time Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), and Farouk Hosni, a former Minister of Culture, when they took the decision to send 72 Egyptian pieces in Japan. The court decided to stop the holding of the exhibition. "There is a decision from 1994 that denies the conduct of archaeological exhibitions abroad. Unfortunately, this verdict, like many others was not respected, "laments Abdel- Samad . The latter trial has divided the archaeologists.
Another danger threatens
For its part, Kadry Kamel, expert restoration, see that these parts belong to the ancient Egyptian people and no one can withstand the deterioration of the smaller room. "Although the amount of insurance is huge, you should know that the masterpieces are all priceless Egyptian irreversible," says Kamel. He added that another danger threatening these parts is tampering with methods become very sophisticated. Especially that the CSA has canceled the use of the mark on the archaeological pieces on loan for exhibition. The imprint ensured that the room is well out of Egypt 's orginale who returns. A matter that denies MohamadAbbas , a member of the Committee of exhibitions abroad to CSA, which ensures that archaeologists of this organization are the mark of any part from abroad. It indicates that the holding of exhibitions through other complicated procedures, in addition to imprint, which guarantee the safety of parts to the highest degree. He says that when the CSA receives a request to hold an exhibition, many negotiations are held to determine the details. Then come the approval of the committee shows, the CSA and the Prime Minister. "A group of archaeologists following the operations of packaging and transport to keep the pieces. An archaeologist, a restaurant and a police officer take away the parts right out of the country until their return, "says Abbas .
For his part, Dr. Raafat Nabarawi , Professor of Archaeology at Cairo University, approved the holding of exhibitions abroad, especially that of Tutankhamun, the remainder of his contract. And that in order not enter trials that could be costly to Egypt. In addition, it is a very good campaign for tourism in Egypt, especially as the country suffers a fall in tourist numbers. Dr. Ahmad Said, professor of archeology at Cairo University, agrees, adding that the exhibition should take place within the framework of the law that regulates them, and provided that the parts are not unique or run the least risk, such as mummies. For him, the income of these exposures that reach over $ 2 billion contribution to the work of excavation, restoration and archaeological missions in Egypt.
This whole controversy regarding the return of treasures Thoutankhamon that pushed Mohamad Abdel- Maqsood , former secretary general of the CSA, to launch on the social network Facebook a referendum on the Leaving or no exposure to Tutankhamun take right now in Houston, United States (see box).An act that has generated much criticism from archaeologists. It now awaits the decision of the new general secretary of the CSA, Dr. Mustafa Amin, who has just elected a new committee for exhibitions abroad to make a final decision on these issues.
