Antiquities ministry replaces deposed supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Meuseum

Nevine El-Aref , Saturday 19 Nov 2011

After protests removed the original supervisor, Hussein Abdel Bassir has been appointed to replace the head of the yet-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Plateau

After protests removed the previous supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Amin appointed Egyptologist Hussein Abdel Bassir to the post.

Abdel Bassir replaces Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, who was resuffhled to head the Ancient Egyptian Department.

Two weeks ago Abdel Maqsoud was relieved of his post following employee protests, who demanded his resignation, a bonus every three months and a 15 per cent rise in incentives.

Protesters also sent a petition to Amin asking him to reshuffle the GEM supreme committee, claiming the committee members were disrupting the GEM project and were remnants of the old, corrupt regime.

Abdel Bassir was the supervisor of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC).

Short link: