Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass has renewed his demand for the return of the ancient bust of Nefertiti from Berlin's State Museums, citing the recent full opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near Giza as proof that Egypt can properly safeguard its artifacts. The bust, dating to ca. 1351–1334 BCE and discovered in 1912 by German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt, has been on display at the Neues Museum since 2009. Hawass, who has shifted his position over time—calling the bust not looted in 2010 but “brazenly stolen” in 2024—argues that Western museums can no longer claim Egyptian institutions lack adequate climate control and display standards.
This renewed repatriation push matters because it reignites a long-standing debate over the ownership of iconic cultural heritage objects held by Western museums. The Grand Egyptian Museum, a 968,000-square-foot facility attracting at least 15,000 daily visitors, strengthens Egypt's case for restitution by providing a world-class venue. Hawass’s high-profile campaign, despite his controversial past, keeps pressure on Germany and other nations to reconsider colonial-era acquisitions, potentially setting a precedent for other repatriation claims across the Global South.