Türkiye Returns Over 150 Stolen Artifacts to Egypt
Photo: Türkiye Archnews
February 5, 2025 Hour: 2:25 pm
Türkiye has returned 152 valuable artifacts that were illegally taken out of Egypt, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Wednesday.
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During an official visit to Ankara, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, met with Türkiye Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. As part of the visit, Turkish authorities formally handed over 152 artifacts that had been smuggled out of Egypt and later seized by Turkish officials.
The recovered items include amulets, sacred scarabs, necklaces, ushabti figurines, seals, and vases—all significant pieces of Egypt’s rich historical heritage.
Egypt has intensified its efforts in recent years to reclaim stolen antiquities. In 2022, renowned archaeologist and former tourism minister Zahi Hawass led a campaign demanding the return of the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum and the Dendera Zodiac from the Louvre.
During the colonial era, tens of thousands of Egypt’s ancient relics were taken abroad. Since 2015, Egyptian authorities have successfully recovered over 29,000 historical artifacts. However, the country continues to press for the return of major treasures, including the bust of Nefertiti, currently in Berlin, and the Rosetta Stone, housed in the British Museum.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: Sputnik
