This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

Salafis have covered up a mermaid statue in Alexandria, Egypt, drawing ridicule and criticism from netizens. Tweeps report that the statue was covered up by the Al Noor Salafi party, which was holding a gathering nearby.

Farah Saafan explains:

@FarahSaafan: Salafis had a meeting close to a mermaid statue in Alexandria.. Ended up covering the poor mermaid during the gathering

EngyG quips:

@EngyG: Covering a mermaid statue in Alexandria is definitely going to get us all to heaven. Can't wait. #Egypt #Alexandria #Salafis

RachidH reacts:

@RachidH: Forward to the 7th century

And Mostafa Hussein is in disbelief and needs to see the deed with his own eyes:

@mosftasa: Do we have a statue of a mermaid in Alexandria? AND someone covered it with a Niqab? Links and photos please.

Al Masry Al Youm newspaper provides the evidence in a photograph it posted on Twitter.

The covered and uncovered mermaid. Posted on Twitter by Al Masri Al Youm

Four Corners Media reminds us that such incidents are only too common, sharing an example from Iraq:

@FourCM: @JustAmira @nfm same happened in Nasiriyah in 2004, Sumerian female statues defaced for exposed breasts

The reaction of many Salafis to the our collective human heritage, culture and the arts, is a stark reminder of how the Taliban destroyed ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan in 2001.

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.