Lawyer calls on Britain to return Parthenon Sculptures to Greece
Human rights lawyer Jeffrey Robertson has charged that the British Museum exhibits "stolen cultural property" and called on European and US institutions to return treasures taken from "enslaved" people and accepted.
According to a Guardian report, the lawyer characteristically states: "The British Museum's managers have become the world's largest kleptopaths and the vast majority of their looters are not even in public view."
The lawyer criticized the museum for allowing an informal "guided tour of stolen artworks, stopping at Elgin's marbles, the Moa Hoa Kakananai'a, bronze objects from Benin and other stolen national treasures referred to." Robertson claims from Greece, the Easter islands and Nigeria respectively and have been the subject of constant controversy.
"It would be a sign of greatness if the museum was" rubbing its hands with blood "and returned Elgin's booty," he said.
Robertson, who is the author of the book "Who Owns History? Elgin’s Loot and the Case for Returning Plundered Treasure ", he accused the museum of "telling a series of carefully crafted lies and half-truths about how the Parthenon marbles were" saved "by Lord Elgin and came into legal possession".
A spokesman for the British Museum admitted that a tour of "stolen artwork" was being conducted, but by an outside guide and not a Museum man. He added that especially Elgin's marbles were obtained legally.
"Lord Elgin's activities were extensively investigated by a committee of parliament in 1816 and found to be perfectly legal," he said. "The British Museum accepts the difficult stories of some of its collections, as well as the conditions under which they were acquired through war or looting," he concluded.
Criticism in the Louvre Museum
Robertson criticized not only the British Museum and the Louvre but also the New York Metropolitan, who "locked up the precious heritage of other countries, stolen by the peoples through aggressive wars and deceit."
"It's time to show humility - something the British do not possess. We also see that they are still nostalgic about the time they ruled the world, so they want Brexit, "he writes in his book. "Before returning what it belongs to and belonging to other cultures, the British Museum should have an exhibition entitled: The Spoils of an Empire," he adds.
In support of his views, the prominent lawyer refers to French President Emmanuel Macron, who has "begun the debate" stating that "Africa's heritage can no longer remain a prisoner in European museums".
"Politicians may ask for honest or less sincere apologies for the crimes committed by their former Empires, but the only way they have now to make a tangible contribution is to return the spoils they gained from the rape of Egypt and China. of African, Asian and South American societies. "
"We cannot correct historical injustices, but we can no longer benefit from them," he said.
Robertson had previously worked for the reunification of the Parthenon marbles alongside Amal Clooney.
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