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July 20, 2005
More "Egyptian" demands
Egyptian government bureaucrat, spokesman and ersatz archaeologist, Zahi Hawass has made his latest threats agents European research institutions. From my point of view, it is entirely possible the Catholic University of Brussels (I think the Guardian means Louvain-la-Neuve) and the Fitzwilliam Museum are in possession of artifacts that were removed recently and illegally from Egypt and should therefore be returned. It is difficult to offer informed comment as this Guardian article offers almost no details, the artifacts themselves being secondary to reprinting an Egyptian government press release in the service of all purpose, misplaced guilt-mongering.
It is impossible, however, to take seriously claims for artifacts removed from the area centuries ago when the current government of Egypt has no democratic legitimacy and is consistently threatened by a violent minority who can no more be entrusted with their care than the Taliban. When I can open a Temple of Isis within the bounds of the old empires that created these objects and that same freedom is enjoyed by, say, the women of what is now called Egypt it will be time to consider relocating some antiquities. For now, the Rosetta Stone should stay precisely where it is.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 20, 2005 07:27 AM
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