More re Hawass contesting accusations published in Al Wafd

Al Ahram Weekly (Nevine El-Aref)

Zahi Hawass says allegations that he smuggled Egyptian heirlooms out of the country have been made up by a disgruntled antiquities employee, writes Nevine El-Aref

Zahi Hawass, minister of state for antiquities affairs, has asked Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud to conduct the necessary investigations into allegations published in Al-Wafd newspaper accusing him of smuggling Egyptian antiquities abroad on behalf of the family of former president Hosni Mubarak.

The newspaper quoted archaeologist Nour Abdel-Samad, who accused Hawass of enabling a group of Zionists and suspect Jewish Zionist organisations such as National Geographic to enter the Egyptian Museum eight years ago and mishandle ancient Egyptian mummies.

Hawass told Al-Ahram Weekly that the accusations in Al-Wafd were unfounded and nonsensical. He said it was insulting to aim abusive language at him without any evidence to confirm such claims.