British Museum announces return of looted Iraqi and Afghan artefacts

Looted ancient artefacts from Iraq and Afghanistan seized in Britain will be returned to their country of origin after appraisal by the British Museum, the institution said on Monday. The London-based museum revealed it has been working with law enforcement agencies including the UK Border Force and the capital’s Metropolitan Police to return the works smuggled out during recent periods of conflict.

“Sadly, this work is more essential now than ever,” said Hartwig Fischer, its director. Among the artefacts to be sent back to Afghanistan are Gandharan sculptures illegally exported to Britain in 2002. Another important haul to be returned to Iraq features 154 Mesopotamian texts written on clay in cuneiform script -- one of the earliest systems of writing -- seized on entry in 2011.