Ransacked Iraq provincial museum seeks lost treasures
The Kufa Museum, which included the largest collection of artifacts after the Baghdad Museum, is striving to retrieve its treasures
plundered shortly after the 2003 U.S. invasion.
The museum, situated close to the southern religious city of Karbala, included hundreds of ancient pieces representing the
various periods of the country’s long history.
A source at the museum, refusing to be named, said many of the stolen pieces have found their way to international markets and
are currently being traded by private collectors and auction houses.
He said Iraqi Antiquities Department was aware of the contraband trade in Iraqi antiquities and has asked the Foreign Ministry to
intervene.
“We want the Iraqi authorities to ask the British government and police to seize these artifacts because they belong to our
museum,” he said.
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plundered shortly after the 2003 U.S. invasion.
The museum, situated close to the southern religious city of Karbala, included hundreds of ancient pieces representing the
various periods of the country’s long history.
A source at the museum, refusing to be named, said many of the stolen pieces have found their way to international markets and
are currently being traded by private collectors and auction houses.
He said Iraqi Antiquities Department was aware of the contraband trade in Iraqi antiquities and has asked the Foreign Ministry to
intervene.
“We want the Iraqi authorities to ask the British government and police to seize these artifacts because they belong to our
museum,” he said.