MOFA: Iraq receives (6) artifacts seized in Turkey

Baghdad-INA 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Friday, that Iraq has received (6) artifacts that were seized in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

The ministry said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the temporary charge d'affaires of the Republic of Iraq in Ankara, Counselor Khalil Ibrahim Mahmoud, received from the Director General of the Turkish Heritage and Museums Department, Kokhan Yazdin, five gold coins dating back to the Abbasid era, and a piece of statue dating back to the Sumerian era." which were seized by the Turkish authorities in Istanbul, in the possession of a collector who obtained them at a public auction outside the country.

The Ministry added, "After investigation by the competent Turkish authorities showed that the six artifacts belong to Iraq and were smuggled out of it illegally.".

The Chargé d'Affairs said during a speech at the handover ceremony that took place at the Directorate of Archaeological Museums in Istanbul, according to the statement, "These pieces were preserved by the Turkish authorities, and their return to Iraq was confirmed through a specialized committee from the Iraqi General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage, in addition to a committee of Turkish researchers at the Istanbul Museum.

He added, "I am grateful to the director of the archaeological museums in Istanbul and to the Turkish authorities for their continuous and successful efforts in combating antiquities smuggling, as they were able to return these artifacts, of historical importance to Iraq," noting that "these pieces are part of the history and heritage of the Iraqi people." Therefore, it belongs to Iraq, and it will be displayed in public museums in front of the Iraqi people to increase their appreciation of their history and culture.”
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For his part, Director General of the Turkish Heritage and Museums Department, Kokhan Yazden, affirmed, "The government of his country is keen to return the trusts to their original owners, and that antiquities must be displayed in the places where they were discovered," calling "all countries of the world to follow suit in this regard.".

The legal advisor at the embassy, Ali Hamza Saeed, also stated that "the artifacts consist of five gold coins dating back to the Abbasid era, and a piece of a statue dating back to the Sumerian era with Sumerian inscriptions," stressing that "we will continue our efforts to recover all the stolen antiquities by legal means."