The convulsed events that are happening these days in Egypt are showing that, under the social and political protest that convulses the country, there exists an unacceptable chain of vandalistic facts that are threatening the survival of the collection of the historical Egyptian heritage, specially the Pharaonic one and the Coptic Christian.
Several unfortunate examples are already well-known: the assault to the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, where, among other remains and objects there deposited, Yuya and Tuya's mummies, the parents of the queen Tiy, wife of Amen-Hotep III, Meket-Re's models, and several Tut-Anj-Amon's statues have been destroyed. The assaults have also taken place in the warehouses of the Service of Antiquities in Abusir, in the Coptic Museum, in the Manial Museum and in other premises consigned to house and protect pieces and objects of a historical incalculable value.
One of the essential reserves of the cultural heritage of the humanity is being threatened with death.
This is a call of alarm to ask all the citizens of the world to, from the social networks, send messages to the UNESCO, to the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, to the cultural organizations of the European Union, and to all the places that come to our heads to clamour for the defense of this heritage that belongs to all, to the whole humanity.
Let us not tolerate new Buddhas of Bamiyan! They want to kill us the soul! Let's fight for our cultural heritage and for our conscience!
Our survival as culture and civilization is indissolubly bound up with the protection of the archaeological and historical heritage of Egypt!
Francisco J. Martín Valentín
Teresa Bedman
Instituto de Estudios del Antiguo Egipto. Madrid. Spain.
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