Cairo: Egypt has requested French authorities to remove a statue in Paris depicting a French archaeologist putting his foot on a pharaonic head, an Egyptian official said.
“A letter has been sent to the French authorities to pull down this statue,” Egyptian Minister of Culture Jaber Asfour said Wednesday, according to the official Middle East News Agency.
The statue, built in 1875, highlights renowned French Egyptologist Jean François Champollion, who deciphered hieroglyphics in the 19th century. The structure, standing in the Paris-based the Collège de France, has been repeatedly condemned by Egyptian intellectuals as “humiliating”.
“I am confident the French authorities will respond to the request,” added Asfour, who is a prominent writer. “Addressing this problem requires wisdom. The problem should be solved through understanding and dialogue as well as opening up channels for communication. Egypt has strong ties with France.”
The request is the latest by the Egyptian side for the removal of the statue, described recently by an Egyptian commentator as an “insult to the national pride”.
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi visited France last month as part of his first European trip since taking office in June. It was not clear if the issue was raised during the visit.
