Tehran, 8 April 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- London Courts recent ruling for putting 17 items of Persian historical relics looted from Jiroft historical site up for sale has evoked the response of authorities of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), cultural heritage experts, and NGOs. In this regard, ICHTO is determined to take action against the court’s ruling through making a complaint to the rehearing court. These ancient artifacts had been plundered from Halil Rud historical site near the city of Jiroft in the Iranian province of Kerman. The smugglers then illegally crossed the borders of the country with these valuable objects, considered part of the Persian heritage, and sold them abroad.

 

In an interview with CHN, Omid Ghanami, director of the Legal Department of ICHTO said: “London’s Court ruling for putting 17 items of Jiroft’s historical relics has aroused the concern of cultural heritage experts. Therefore, we are determined to study the case from all aspects in an attempt to recover Persian artifacts through appealing to the court for rehearing.”

 

The litigant of Iran in this case is the Barakat Gallery, which has collected a large number of Jiroft’s historical relics and intends to fight any appeal, said it had acquired good title to the artifacts under the laws of France, Germany, and Switzerland, where it brought them. According to The Independent, Lane and Partners, the gallery’s London lawyers, said the antiquities were mainly bought at auction and were valued at about £ 250,000.  

 

According to Ghanami, Iran has still the right to follow up the case through the rehearing court. “Currently we are trying to estimate Iran’s chance of winning at the rehearing court. The Legal Department of ICHTO is also determined to make an accurate assessment on the expenses of the appeal,” added Ghanami.

 

The whole story started when cultural heritage authorities found out that Jifort’s stolen relics were being auctioned by Barakat Gallery in London, they immediately took action and asked the London Court to stop the selling of these invaluable relics. The court ordered the gallery to stop selling them and asked it to come to an agreement with Iran about them. However, although the gallery took these artifacts out of its auction, it refused to give them back to Iran despite Iran’s proposal to give 150,000 British pounds as compensation. Following that Iran took the case to London Court for the second time last summer.  

 

The case was first taken to the court by Iran with the help of the International Law Department of Paris. Iran and France worked closely to prepare a file and submit it to London’s court to prove Iran’s claim for the ownership of these relics.   

 

Anyway the recent ruling of London Court indicating that 17 pieces of Jiroft’s historical relics can be sold in an auction, has not only evoked the emotions of cultural heritage enthusiasts, but has also violated UNESCO’s 1970 convention indicating prevention of the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural properties, which UK has also ratified it.

 

According to The Independent, Jeremy Scott, a lawyer acting on behalf of the Iranian government, said the ruling was a setback of those trying to stop looters. “It will be of great concern to many countries throughout the world as it places their archeological heritage at further risk,” said Scott.  

 

In a statement, the gallery said: “We do understand the Islamic Republic of Iran’s desire to preserve its rich and diverse heritage. However, there mush also be protection for those of us who, quite legitimately are dealing in antiquities.”

 

Halil Rud historical site was one of the first places where civilization and urbanization were established. A large number of stone, clay, and architectural remains from the third millennium BC were discovered during archeological excavations in the site. However, after such a rich civilization was discovered in Halil Rud region, lack of appropriate protection and management in this historical site and lack of public knowledge about how to preserve their cultural heritage, and the smugglers who took advantage of this situation and sold a large amount of these historical relics illegally all led to such a dilemma we are facing today.       

 

At present ICHTO is trying to prepare a file and gathering valid document which prove Iran’s claim for ownership of these invaluable artifacts which are currently in possession of Barakat Gallery.

 

 

Soudabeh Sadigh

foreigndesk@chn.ir