Al-Hudhud Center for Archaeological Studies revealed a report documenting the theft of Yemeni antiquities and their sale in international auctions.
Al-Hudhud Center stated that more than 4,265 smuggled artifacts were sold in six countries, namely America through five auctions, Britain four auctions, France three auctions, two auctions in Israel and an auction for Germany and the Netherlands.
The center added that the number of pieces sold and displayed during the period of Saudi war on Yemen amounted to 2,610 pieces, America in first place 2167 artifacts, then the Netherlands and in third place Israel 501 artifacts.
The center indicated that the number of artifacts sold during the war period amounted to 2,523 pieces, with an estimated value of $12 million, pointing out that among the pieces monitored by the report were pieces whose price amounted to more than $800,000, such as a manuscript dating back to the fifteenth century AD.
The Al-Hudhud Center confirmed that the preliminary statistics of the artifact models included 7 international museums, which included 1,384 artifacts.
“The UAE plays a major role in looting Yemeni antiquities, because it presents them in meager plays as Emirati artifacts, pointing out that it also plays the role of a corridor for smuggling stolen Yemeni antiquities to deliver them to the Israeli occupation entity.”, The head of the center, Fahmi Al-Aghbari confirmed.
A document was previously leaked from the Saudi “Control and Anti-Corruption Authority” revealing the minister of Agriculture in the government of Aden Muammar Muammar Al-Eryani, involvement in smuggling rare artifacts from Yemen to Europe, and investigations proved that Al-Eryani runs a network of smuggling rare artifacts from Yemen to Europe via Saudi Arabia and sells them there. On the black market at very low prices.
