May 2014

1 A facsimile of Tutankhamun’s Tomb opens on Luxor’s West Bank. Created using 3D scanning and installed by Spain’s Factum Foundation, the facsimile is housed underground near the dig house of Howard Carter, now a museum dedicated to the archeologist who excavated the original tomb. Costing nearly LE 5 million, the facsimile was fully funded by the Factum Foundation, which gifted it to Egypt in honor of the 90th anniversary of the tomb’s discovery. The project was carried out with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Heritage and Monuments and with the backing of the European Union. It is the first stage of a larger project that will also create facsimiles of the Tombs of Seti I and Nefertari.  17 Hussein El-Imam, actor and songwriter, dies at age 63 after a heart attack. The son of Hassan El-Imam and brother of Moody El-Imam, Hussein wrote the score for plays Ballo (Hullabaloo) and Lamma Baba Yenam (When Daddy Falls Asleep) as well as for films Kaboria (Crab) and Estacoza (Lobster). He also sang and hosted his own cooking show. 21 The Ministry of Heritage and Monuments announces the discovery of an ancient Egyptian limestone temple in the Gabal El-Nour area of Beni Suef. The temple dates back to 282-246 BC, the era of Ptolemy II. 21 After numerous delays, ousted President Hosni Mubarak is convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to three years in jail. Mubarak’s sons, Gamal and Alaa, are both sentenced to four years behind bars in a maximum-security prison, fined LE 125 million and ordered to repay another LE 21 million. The brothers are convicted of illegally siphoning presidential palace budget funds to pay for the construction of family-owned properties. After the sentencing, the 85-year-old Mubarak returned to the hospital where he has been since August 2013 when his health began to deteriorate. Considered by many to be the ‘Trial of the Century,’ the former president was sentenced to life in prison in June 2012. However, an court ordered a retrial due to technicalities in the case in 2013, which precipitated the new trial and conviction for embezzlement. 24 Writer and journalist Saad Hagras dies at age 68. The leftist thinker explored Arab and regional affairs in many of his works, as well as the phenomenon of globalization. 26 Actress Fayza Kamal dies at age 51 after battling liver cancer. Known for her dramatization of period roles in series such as La Illaha Illa Allah (There Is No God But Allah). Kamal also acted in drama series including El-Baqi Min Al-Zaman Saa (One Hour Left) and El-Mal Wil Banoun (Wealth and Progeny). 26-27 After two revolutions in the past three years, Egyptians begin voting in a historic election. Overseas voting for expatriates began on the 15th, but at home polls opened to a lower-than-expected turnout. The banned Muslim Brotherhood, calling for the return of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, boycotts the election entirely. Polls remain open an additional day, declared a national holiday, to allow more citizens to vote. Additionally, the government waives train and bus fares for this extra day to encourage more citizens to participate. 30 Initial counts show former Field Marshal Al-Sisi has won with a landslide victory, capturing 93.3% of the vote. Leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi receives approximately 3% of the vote and concedes defeat but only after asserting the vote was unethically conducted. Interim President Adly Mansour reveals that voter turnout was approximately 46% and states this reveals “a broad consensus.”