19 cultural artifacts smuggled abroad returned to Türkiye

Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced Sunday that 19 cultural artifacts have been repatriated from several countries this year, underscoring the nation’s significant efforts to protect its cultural heritage.

Throughout the year, the ministry successfully retrieved artifacts illegally removed from Türkiye and taken to six countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

Notable returns and historical significance

One of the most notable items repatriated is a Quran from the U.K., originally part of the collection of Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II. This Quran, signed at the start of the 16th century by Mustafa Dede, one of the most celebrated Turkish calligraphers of the time, was taken out of Türkiye through extortion and put up for sale in 2017.

In another significant return, 11 terracotta pieces were sent back by Italy following an inquiry by the Florence Prosecutor’s Office and a report from the Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Additional important artifacts include a bronze emperor statue from the late second to early third centuries A.D., a Roman period terracotta vase from Germany, and two bronze coins from the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justin I (518-527 A.D.) repatriated from France.

Commitment to cultural preservation

Since 2002, Türkiye has successfully repatriated 12,139 artifacts, with 7,823 of these returns occurring after 2018. The Minister of Culture and Tourism of The Republic of Türkiye emphasized the ongoing commitment to cultural preservation.

“We continue to protect our history and cultural heritage!” the minister stated. “We ensured the return of 19 more works in 2024. During this process, which we carried out with great care and determination, we brought back valuable works from England, Italy, and the USA to our country.”

He added, “We have increased the number of works returned to Türkiye to 12,139 since 2002 and 7,823 since 2018. Every part of these lands is a witness to our history and culture, and we are determined to protect them and pass them on to the future!”