Scottish Museums Remove Ancient Mummies Over 'Lack of Consent'

Scottish Museums Remove Ancient Mummies Over ‘Lack of Consent’

Scottish museums remove Egyptian mummies from display, citing lack of consent and respect for human remains.

2 min read

Scottish museums have removed ancient Egyptian mummies from public display, citing a new policy that requires ‘documented and informed consent’ from the deceased or their descendants. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow removed the remains of Egyptian priest Nekht, along with a mummified male head, right hand, and right foot from the Valley of the Kings. In their place, a sign now states the remains were removed ‘as a mark of respect.’

The Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow has also draped the mummified body of Lady Shep-En-Hor, who has been on display for over 200 years, while her ornate sarcophagus remains visible. The museum said she ‘deserved privacy in death.’

Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser criticized the decision, calling it ‘woke madness at its most ridiculous.’ He argued that people visit museums to learn about ancient civilizations, not to see history hidden away because it fails to meet modern ideological standards. ‘Glasgow’s museums should be showcasing our history, not quietly removing it to appease the latest trend in political correctness,’ he said.

Reform member Thomas Kerr added, ‘3,000 years of history manoeuvred by a Glasgow Museums diversity officer.’ He tweeted, ‘So behind me is Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, probably Britain’s wokest museum, and that’s a big, big say.’ Kerr criticized the museum for removing the mummies because they ‘did not give consent to be in there.’

He continued, ‘Kids come to this museum to learn about history, to learn about culture, everything that has to do with the world. The idea that you remove mummies because 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 years ago they didn’t sign a permission slip to say their body should be on display is absolute bonkers.’