The world famous Louvre Museum, based in Paris, has formally apologised for the omission of Qatar in a map exhibited by the Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum.
The world famous museum has also opened an investigation into the geographical distortion that had led to widespread condemnation, reported Gulf Times.
The Abu Dhabi branch of the Louvre Museum had earlier explained that the omission was not intentional and was an oversight, before replacing the map.
Qatar’s national human rights committee (NHRC) Chairman Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri first revealed information regarding the apology by the Parisian museum after he met its officials during a recent visit.
He said the museum officials had also promised to open a formal investigation into what went wrong, reported UK-based Al Araby website.
“The Louvre Museum administration has apologised and are opening an official investigation into the Louvre Abu Dhabi scandal,” Al Marri said.
“Louvre administration will raise the issue next week when French officials travel to the UAE,” said Al Marri, who is visiting France as part of a European tour.
“The scandal at the Louvre Abu Dhabi was an attempt to wipe out the people and state of Qatar and a use of art as a tool to settle political scores,” he added.
رئيس اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الإنسان يجتمع مع إدارة متحف اللوفر بباريس.
د. علي بن صميخ: إدارة متحف "اللوفر" تعتذر وتفتح تحقيقاً رسمياً حول فضيحة "لوفر أبو ظبي" . pic.twitter.com/krkkEvcu3O
د. المري: إدارة اللوفر ستثير النقاش حول القضية في زيارة المسؤولين الفرنسيين للإمارات الأسبوع المقبل.
د. المري: قضية "لوفر أبو ظبي" يمسّ بمصداقية المؤسسات الثقافية والتعليمية الفرنسية.
د. علي بن صميخ: ما أقدمت عليه سلطات أبو ظبي اعتداء على ذاكرة وتاريخ وثقافة شعوب المنطقة وفضيحة "لوفر أبو ظبي" لا تستهدف قطر بدرجة أولى بل تمسّ بالموروث الثقافي العالمي.
Analysts had pointed out that the ‘geographical deletion’ was incompatible with France’s agreement to let Abu Dhabi use the Louvre’s name.
The error was pointed out on January 19 by the Chairperson of Qatar Museums, HE Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Throughout history museums were a source of reference. People would visit to acquire knowledge and learn about world cultures through the exploration of objects on display. Although the notion of museums is a new one to Abu Dhabi, surely the @MuseeLouvre is not okay with this? https://t.co/k5ikOmSpsd
Last year, the UAE paid France’s iconic Louvre Museum a whopping $520mn for the use of its name in its own Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, which finally opened its doors last November after a five-year delay.
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