Dr. Zahi Hawass Was the First to Lead the Official Demand for the Repatriation of Nefertiti’s Bust

In a definitive move to resolve the controversy surrounding the history of official demands for the repatriation of Egypt’s iconic "Bust of Queen Nefertiti," and to refute any inaccurate claims, historical documents and facts confirm that Dr. Zahi Hawass, during his tenure as Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, was the first Egyptian official to submit a comprehensive, formal, and governmental request to the German side demanding the return of the Queen's bust to its homeland.

On January 2, 2011, Dr. Zahi Hawass spearheaded a critical legal and diplomatic initiative by sending an official letter, in his capacity as the representative of the Egyptian government, to the "Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation" in Berlin. The letter outlined several fundamental points formulated by Hawass to serve as a solid legal foundation, most notably:

Evidence of Legal Deception: Dr. Zahi Hawass meticulously detailed how the statue left Egypt in 1913, asserting that the description of the artifact was manipulated during the "division of finds" process. This rendered its removal illegal and a direct violation of both the letter and the spirit of the Egyptian antiquities laws in effect at the time.

*The Documented Official Demand: This letter is considered the "Master Document" in the restitution file. It transitioned the issue from mere media statements into a formal request for repatriation based on international conventions and the 1970 UNESCO Convention.

Precise Identification of the Artifact: Hawass formally demanded the return of the piece registered under number AM 21300 at the "Neues Museum" (New Museum) in Berlin, emphasizing that this unique masterpiece is irreplaceable and that its rightful and natural place is in Egypt.

Historical records confirm that this official move led by Dr. Zahi Hawass held the German authorities to their historical and legal responsibilities for the first time on an institutional level. Consequently, the January 2011 letter** remains the primary and essential reference in the case for the repatriation of the Bust of Nefertiti.