Following the Saqqara incident: The reason for banning the Egyptian flag in archaeological sites – “The text of the law”

Following the Saqqara incident: The reason for banning the Egyptian flag in archaeological sites – “The text of the law”

The incident of banning the Egyptian flag in an archaeological site dominated social media in recent hours, with many sharing a video of the event and questioning the reason for the ban. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued an official statement revealing the details of the incident. So, what was the reason behind banning the flag?

The incident began.

The person involved posted a video on his personal Facebook account, explaining that he was in the Saqqara area near the pyramids to go horseback riding with his friends, but was surprised to be prevented from entering with the Egyptian flag. In the video, he stated that the ban was based on instructions from the director of the archaeological site where he was located. The person involved tagged the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to investigate the incident, which has sparked widespread controversy in recent hours.

The Egyptian Flag Incident

Statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued a statement hours after the incident went viral on social media, explaining why the Egyptian flag was prohibited from entering the area where the individual involved was located. The statement, published on the Cabinet's official Facebook page, clarified that the gate seen in the video is a side gate to the exercise area of ​​the Abusir archaeological site.

The statement further explained that bringing flags, banners, or any other symbols into museums and archaeological sites throughout the country is subject to regulations requiring prior coordination and approval from the Supreme Council of Antiquities. This is to preserve the archaeological character of these museums and sites and to prevent their use for any promotional, political, partisan, religious, or other activities or purposes, thus ensuring the preservation of their historical and cultural value.