Cairo -- The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has officially received two ancient artifacts from the kingdom of Belgium, which had been illegally smuggled out of the country.

This retrieval is part of the Egyptian state’s unwavering commitment to preserving its cultural heritage, achieved through full cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Public Prosecutor, and all concerned authorities in Belgium.

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), Mohamed Ismail Khaled, explained that the story of recovering these two pieces dates back to 2016, when Belgian authorities seized four Egyptian artifacts displayed in a gallery without any legal documentation proving the exhibitor’s ownership.

In 2022, Egypt successfully recovered two pieces from this group: two wooden statues—one of a standing man, and a second, small ushabti figurine of an unidentified person.

Egyptian authorities continued to pursue the case for the remaining two artifacts through a diplomatic and legal process that spanned several years, culminating in the successful recovery of the items.Egypt travel guides