German publication Die Zeit has an interview with former director of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Dr. Wafaa el-Saddik. The interview is in German and can be seen here. A digital translation (revised slightly by yours truly) of the interview itself is given below. She believes strongly that the attempted robbery was an inside job, executed by former security staff posted at the museum.
Question: Looters attacked the Egyptian Museum in Cairo on Friday evening. What exactly happened?
WS: The situation is still very unclear. There are many pieces on the floor that were thrown and destroyed, including statues of gods from the treasure of Tutankhamun. A total of 13 display cases were smashed. We now know that the looters have not stolen any Pharaonic objects. The new extension with the big souvenir shop(1), which was opened in November, was totally robbed.
Question: Who were the perpetrators?
WS: They were the guardians of the museum. Some were policemen with their jackets pulled up, so as not to be identified as policemen.(2) A second group of offenders then entered through a fire escape and the skylight. The destruction is all on the first floor, where there is also the treasure of Tutankhamun.
Question: Are there other museums in Egypt affected?
WS: The magazines of the Museum in Memphis were completely robbed on Saturday. The leaders there have called me in desperation and begged: “Save us, do something.” I first called the police, but got no response. I’ve alerted an Army General I know, but it was too late. I was on the phone with the museums in Luxor and Aswan, and there is nothing happening there. The biggest problem is the lack of protection for our museums. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and all museums in Egypt are not insured. I have asked for many years for this to be done – without success.
Question: In Cairo, the protesters have protected the Egyptian Museum immediately with a human chain?
WS: When people in Tahrir Square noticed what was going on, they protected the entire site immediately. The perpetrators, however, were inside the building. The protesters were able to arrest some, but others have escaped. Fortunately, the military arrived quickly, as they were already deployed on Friday evening in Tahrir Square. Since then the museum is well protected.
Question: Is the danger from the fire in the adjacent building (the headquarters of Mubarak’s ruling party) averted?
WS: Yes, fortunately, the danger is over. The skyscraper had been burning for nearly two days, and with gusts of wind, it could have easily spread to the Egyptian Museum.
Question: Why would their own security guards commit such barbarism?
WS: They are paid very poorly. I wrote my fingers crooked asking for more money for these people, all for free. A security guard earns about 250 Egyptian pounds, or 35 € a month. We have about 160 security guards plus several dozen police officers who are basically conscripts in police uniforms. These policemen earn even less. Again and again, these young fathers came to me. They have nothing. One sold everything he had at home, to get medicine for his sick child. Others are hungry, even at home. But the Egyptian ministry of culture celebrates itself with expensive projects and receptions.
Notes:
1 This is referring to the new shop and ticket office, which was robbed. ZH referred to it only as the ticket office.
2 Complex sentence not translated well by the computer. I have tried to break it down into blocks here so it makes better sense. However I am not familiar with the language and cannot guarantee accuracy. Refer to the original interview to see the german text.
Kunstraub in Ägypten “Das waren unsere eigenen Leute” Art theft in Egypt “Those were our own people”
Das Ägyptische Museum in Kairo wurde geplündert – von den eigenen Wachleuten. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo has been looted – by his own guards. Das liegt auch an den geringen Löhnen, sagt die ehemalige Museumsdirektorin Wafaa el-Saddik. This is partly because of low wages, says the former museum director Wafaa el-Saddik.
© Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images © Khaled Desouki / AFP / Getty Images
Panzer vor dem Ägyptischen Museum in Kairo am 29. Tank outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo on 29 Januar. January. Daneben brennt das Hauptgebäude der herrschenden Nationaldemokratischen Partei (NDP) von Präsident Mubarak. In addition, burning the main building of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of President Mubarak.
Frage: Plünderer haben am Freitagabend das Ägyptische Museum in Kairo angegriffen. Question: looter on Friday evening the Egyptian Museum in Cairo attack. Was genau ist passiert? What exactly happened?
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Wafaa el-Saddik: Die Lage ist noch sehr unübersichtlich. Wafaa el-Saddik: The situation is still very unclear. Es sind sehr viele Figuren auf den Boden geworfen und zerstört worden, darunter auch Götterfiguren aus dem Schatz des Tutanchamun. There are many pieces on the floor was thrown and destroyed, including statues of gods from the treasure of Tutankhamun. Insgesamt wurden 13 Vitrinen zertrümmert. A total of 13 display cases were smashed. Inzwischen wissen wir, dass die Plünderer keine pharaonischen Schmuckstücke gestohlen haben. We now know that the looters have not stolen pharaonic trinkets. Der neue Anbau aber mit dem großen Andenkengeschäft, was erst im November eröffnet worden ist, wurde total ausgeraubt. The new extension but with the big souvenir shop, which was opened in November, was totally robbed.
Frage: Wer waren die Täter? Question: Who were the perpetrators?
Wafaa el-Saddik (60) war von 2004 bis Ende 2010 Direktorin des Ägyptischen Museums in Kairo. Wafaa el-Saddik (60) was from 2004 to the end of 2010 Director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Dort lagert eine der berühmtesten Antikensammlungen der Welt. There, one of the most famous collections of antiquities stored in the world. Ihren Doktor in Archäologie hat sie in Wien gemacht. Her doctorate in archeology, it has made in Vienna. Bevor sie den Chefposten in Kairo annahm, lebte sie 15 Jahre lang in Köln. Before she accepted the top job in Cairo, she lived 15 years in Cologne.
El-Saddik: Das waren die Wächter des Museum. El-Saddik: Those were the guardians of the museum. Einige von den Polizisten haben offenbar vorher ihre Jacken ausgezogen, um nicht als Polizisten erkennbar zu sein. Some have apparently by the police before their coats pulled out not to be recognizable as policemen. Eine zweite Gruppe der Täter ist dann von hinten über eine Feuerleiter durch die Dachfenster eingestiegen. A second group of offenders is then entered from the back of a fire escape through the skylight. Die Zerstörungen sind alle im ersten Stockwerk, wo sich auch der Schatz des Tutanchamun befindet. The demolitions are all on the first floor, where there is also the treasure of Tutankhamun.
Frage: Sind noch andere Museen in Ägypten betroffen? Question: Are there other museums in Egypt affected?
El-Saddik: Das Museum in Memphis und seine Magazine wurden am Samstag früh komplett ausgeraubt. El-Saddik: The Museum in Memphis, and his magazines have been completely robbed on Saturday morning. Die Verantwortlichen dort haben mich in ihrer Verzweiflung angerufen und gefleht: “Rette uns, mach etwas.” The leaders there have called me in desperation and prayed: “Save us, do something.” Ich habe zunächst die Polizei angerufen, aber die hat nicht reagiert. I first called the police, but did not respond. Dann habe ich einen Armeegeneral alarmiert, den ich kenne. I’ve alerted an Army General, I know. Aber es war bereits zu spät. But it was too late. Mit den Museen in Luxor und Assuan habe ich telefoniert, dort ist nichts passiert. With the museums in Luxor and Aswan I was on the phone, there is nothing happening. Das größte Problem ist der mangelhafte Schutz unserer Museen überhaupt. The biggest problem is the lack of protection of our museums at all. Das Ägyptische Museum in Kairo und alle Museen in Ägypten sind überhaupt nicht versichert. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and all museums in Egypt are not insured. Ich habe viele Jahre lang verlangt, dass das geschieht – ohne jeden Erfolg. I have asked for many years that this happens – without any success.
Frage: In Kairo haben die Demonstranten das Ägyptische Museum dann sofort mit einer Menschenkette geschützt? Question: In Cairo, the Egyptian Museum protesters immediately with a human chain to protect?
El-Saddik: Als die Menschen auf dem Tahrir-Platz gemerkt haben, was vorgeht, haben sie das gesamte Gelände sofort umgestellt. El-Saddik: People on the Tahrir Square have noticed that as what is going on, they immediately converted the entire site. Die Täter aber waren im Inneren des Gebäudes. The perpetrators, however, were inside the building. Die Demonstranten haben einige festnehmen können, andere sind entkommen. The protesters were able to arrest some, others have escaped. Zum Glück war dann schnell das Militär zur Stelle, das am Freitagabend bereits auf dem Tahrir-Platz aufmarschiert war. Fortunately, the military was then quickly on the spot, which was deployed on Friday evening already on Tahrir Square. Seitdem wird das Museum gut geschützt. Since then the museum is well protected.
Frage: Ist die Gefahr durch das Feuer in dem Gebäude der benachbarten Zentrale von Mubaraks Regierungspartei gebannt? Question: Is the risk of fire in the building adjacent to the headquarters of Mubarak’s ruling party, the banned?
El-Saddik: Ja, die Gefahr ist zum Glück gebannt. El-Saddik: Yes, the danger is averted for happiness. Das Hochhaus brennt seit fast zwei Tagen, durch Windböen hätte das Feuer leicht auf das Ägyptische Museum übergreifen können. The skyscraper has been burning for nearly two days, with wind gusts had the fire can easily spread to the Egyptian Museum.
Frage: Warum begehen die eigenen Wachleute eine solche Barbarei? Question: Why commit their own security guards such barbarism?
El-Saddik: Sie werden extrem schlecht bezahlt. El-Saddik: They are extremely poorly paid. Ich habe mir die Finger krumm geschrieben und mehr Geld für diese Menschen verlangt. I wrote the fingers crooked and asking for more money for these people. Alles umsonst. All for free. Ein Wachmann verdient etwa 250 ägyptische Pfund, das sind 35 Euro im Monat. A security guard earns about 250 Egyptian pounds, or 35 € a month. Wir haben rund 160 Wachleute plus mehrere Dutzend Polizisten, die im Grunde Wehrpflichtige in Polizeiuniformen sind. We have about 160 security guards plus several dozen police officers who are basically conscripts in police uniforms. Diese Polizisten verdienen noch weniger. These policemen earn even less. Immer wieder waren diese jungen Väter bei mir. Again and again, these young fathers to me. Sie haben nichts. You have nothing. Einer hat alles, was er zuhause hatte, verkauft, um Medizin für sein krankes Kind besorgen zu können. One has everything he had at home, sold, to get medicine for his sick child. Andere hungern sogar daheim. Other hungry even at home. Aber das ägyptische Kulturministerium – das feiert sich mit teuren Projekten und Empfängen. But the Egyptian ministry of culture – that celebrates itself with expensive projects and receptions.
February 14, 2011 at 10:41 pm
The looting is outrageous and sadly behind us. Mr. Zahi Hawass is responsible for not ensuring that people got properly paid to protect all institutions…that is his primary responsibility. Not his website, not his self promotion. Publish the pictures of the stolen pieces immediately in as many local magazines and newspapers; inform UNESCO/ICOM and IFAR; inform INTERPOL. Do not be misled by Mr. Hawass’ attempts to cover his absence. He did nothing in the past but promote himself (supposedly for the benefit of Egypt while others had nothing to eat) and will do nothing in the future but the same.