In a statement, Masry said that he preferred to hand over thousands of historical artifacts he had collected for approximately 20 years to the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, instead of keeping or selling them.
Masry, who said that his collecting, which started with the first piece he bought from a person in need, became a passion over time, stated, "I collected approximately 7-8 thousand pieces, including sculptures, ceramics, precious stones, perforated and unperforated beads, various stones, and bronze pieces."
Masry stated that his collection received intense interest from surrounding regions and that he contacted the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums so that the artifacts could be seen and preserved by everyone.
Masry, stating that he established an emotional bond with the artifacts in his collection, said, "These are a part of my heart for me. I have been with them for 20 years. They are like my children to me. I have examined the details of each piece hundreds of times."
Masry said that the artifacts in his collection range from the Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian periods to the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Ottoman periods.
Masry, who stated that he continues to collect coins from Syria and other Arab countries, also said that his collection includes fossils from different periods.
