Tomorrow, Tuesday: "Zahi Hawass" Foundation to Reveal Secrets of Recovering Smuggled Egyptian Antiquities

 The Zahi Hawass Center for Antiquities and Cultural Heritage is organizing a major educational seminar titled "Recovering Egyptian Antiquities: When History Speaks Again." The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Shaaban Abdel Gawad, Director General of the Recovered Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The event is scheduled for 6:00 PM tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6, at the Prince Taz Palace Arts Center in the El-Khalifa district.

This lecture is part of the Foundation's ongoing mission to raise public awareness regarding national efforts to protect Egyptian identity. It aims to showcase the "heroic saga" undertaken by the Egyptian state to reclaim its looted treasures from abroad.

Seminar Agenda and Key Themes

Dr. Shaaban Abdel Gawad is expected to address four strategic pillars that define the roadmap for the repatriation of artifacts:

 Legal and Institutional Framework: An overview of domestic laws and international treaties—such as the 1970 UNESCO Convention—that grant Egypt the legal right to reclaim its heritage.

 Tracking and Documentation Mechanisms: Insight into how international auction houses and websites are monitored globally, and the technical methods used to prove the ownership of smuggled pieces.

Cultural Diplomacy: The vital role of international cooperation and coordination between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and international security and judicial authorities.

Success Stories and Challenges: A presentation of real-life case studies involving unique artifacts that have returned to their homeland, alongside a discussion on the obstacles faced in recovering pieces that left the country before the enactment of modern deterrent laws.

"The recovery of antiquities is not merely an administrative procedure; it is a battle to reclaim a vital part of our national memory and human history."

This seminar offers an exceptional opportunity for researchers, journalists, and enthusiasts of Egyptian civilization to go behind the scenes of one of the most complex and significant files in contemporary heritage preservation.