Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno has referred several high-ranking officials to the Public Prosecution following the discovery of what appeared to be unauthorized excavations at a government-run cultural facility in Luxor city of Upper Egypt, raising suspicions of illegal antiquities activity.
While touring, Hanno visited the Children’s Cultural Palace in Luxor, where he found deep excavations under one of the building’s annexes. The excavation, reportedly carried out by a private contracting firm responsible for the restoration of the site, was not authorized by the relevant authorities.
The Ministry of Culture stated that several officials, including the current and former heads of the Southern Upper Egypt Cultural Zone, the Luxor branch manager, technicians, and the directors of both the Luxor Cultural Palace and the Children’s Cultural Palace, are currently under investigation. The site’s security guard is also being investigated.
The ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the excavation had taken place without proper supervision and under conditions that suggested negligence or possible abuse. Hanno also criticized the deteriorating condition of the Luxor and Children’s Cultural Palaces, saying it was inconsistent with reported restoration work.
The ministry defined the incident as a threat to Egypt’s culture and warned that such practices jeopardize public trust and development efforts. It pledged stricter oversight and site inspections to maintain transparency and safeguard national projects.
The case is now under investigation by the Prosecution in Luxor.