Wednesday, July 05, 2006

IRAN wants those cuneiform tablets back:
Iran demands return of artifacts from US
Jul 4, 2006 (Persian Journal)

Iran National Museum has called on officials of Chicago University to observe the principles of safekeeping and defend Iranian ownership to artifacts which are being maintained at the university's Oriental Studies Institute as a trust.

Curator of Iran National Museum Mohammad Reza Karegar forwarded a letter to Chicago University to take necessary action with US Justice Department to ensure the custody of rare Iranian artifacts and clay works which were deposited with the Institute of Oriental Studies as a trust so that the verdict of the US federal judge will not be applicable.

Karegar pointed out that Iran Nation Museum has been in correspondence with Chicago University's Oriental Studies Department for the return of the artifacts. He noted that there was an agreement between Iran National Museum and Chicago University based on which 300 artifacts and clay fragments with cuneiform scripts are being kept at the Oriental Studies Institute as a trust.

A US Federal judge issued a politicized verdict against University of Chicago ordering the auction of the artifacts to pay the claims to Israel.

[...]
I'm afraid I'm on Iran's side on this one, although not necessarily for their reasons. Whatever the legal niceties, it would be morally repugnant and grossly irresponsible to break up that collection and sell it of piecemeal. More here.

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