Jemen
The Primary Public Funds Court in Aden has issued a ruling requiring the Yemeni government to recover a collection of smuggled Yemeni antiquities currently displayed in several European countries, including Spain, the UK, France, and Switzerland. The ruling mandates coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to retrieve and repatriate the specified artifacts.
The court reviewed official documents, expert reports from archaeologists, and national laws and international agreements related to heritage and antiquities protection. The judgment affirms Yemen's ownership over the detailed antiquities mentioned and obligates the relevant authorities to deliver them to the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums in Aden for preservation, restoration, and protection in accordance with the law.
The ruling also directs the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums to update its database of Yemeni antiquities and to prepare and distribute bulletins identifying artifacts lost during the war and smuggled abroad, to be circulated on official platforms. The smuggling of Yemeni antiquities has worsened in recent years, with reports documenting thousands of artifacts being sold through online auctions in countries including the U.S., UK, France, and Israel, posing a significant threat to Yemen’s cultural heritage.
The court's decision underscores the importance of protecting and reclaiming Yemen's cultural heritage, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to prevent the illicit trade of antiquities.
