The recent return of the Roman-era sculpture of Emperor Marcus Aurelius to Turkey has highlighted growing momentum in the global campaign to repatriate smuggled cultural artifacts. Turkish and Egyptian officials have emphasized their shared stance on the issue, underscoring their determination to retrieve and protect their nations’ heritage.
A Turkish official expressed optimism that the successful return of the Aurelius statue will pave the way for similar breakthroughs for Egypt. He noted that countless Egyptian antiquities have been looted and trafficked abroad over the decades, and highlighted that Turkey has already returned a number of these artifacts in the past.
“The Turkish and Egyptian positions are identical when it comes to the smuggling of antiquities and the necessity of returning them to their countries of origin,” the official said. “We are hopeful that this critical return marks the beginning of greater cooperation between our nations in this area.”
The official also praised the role of Professor Khaled al-Anany, Egypt’s former Minister of Antiquities and current head of UNESCO, as a potentially powerful advocate for the international repatriation of stolen heritage.
“With al-Anany at UNESCO, we hope Egypt and Turkey can work more closely to advance this joint cause and secure similar successes,” the official added.
Both countries have long histories of cultural plunder by colonial powers and private collectors. In recent years, they have stepped up efforts to reclaim their treasures through diplomacy, legal channels, and public awareness campaigns. The renewed cooperation between Ankara and Cairo signals a strategic alliance that could lead to further returns of artifacts illegally removed from both nations.
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