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New York to Return Looted Yemeni Antiquities Worth $725k Following Investigation

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Hadeel Hashem
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The Manhattan prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, announced that three stolen Yemeni artifacts valued at $725,000 will be returned to the Yemeni people. The artifacts include a fifth-century BC alabaster ram that was looted during the Yemeni civil war in 1994. The items were seized from the Manhattan apartment of Shelby White, a member of the board of trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Manhattan antiques trafficking unit investigated the White case, leading to the return of dozens of artifacts looted from their countries of origin.

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The repatriation of the Yemeni pieces is part of a broader effort by the New York Prosecutor’s Office to investigate and repatriate stolen art and antiquities. Over the past 16 months, about 1,000 artifacts have been repatriated as a result of these efforts.

The investigation leads to the repatriation of stolen art and antiquities

The Manhattan prosecutor's announcement follows a long investigation into Shelby White, a collector of antiquities. In December, the Manhattan District Attorney's office confiscated $24 million worth of antiquities from White's apartment. The prosecutor's office thanked White for cooperating with the investigation, which led to the return of dozens of artifacts looted from their countries of origin.

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The looting of cultural heritage sites and the trafficking of stolen art and antiquities is a global problem, with many of these artifacts finding their way into private collections and museums. The repatriation of these stolen items to their countries of origin is an important step towards restoring their cultural heritage.

Temporary display at Smithsonian Institution

The Yemeni pieces will be temporarily displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington until Yemeni authorities can safely recover them. The Smithsonian Institution is a world-renowned museum complex known for its vast collections of art, history, and culture. This temporary display will provide an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the significance of these artifacts and their cultural context.

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