Turkey Supports Greece’s Efforts to Reclaim Elgin Marbles from UK

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Turkey has unexpectedly backed Greece in its ongoing effort to reclaim the Elgin Marbles from the United Kingdom, describing the UK’s retention of the sculptures as “colonialist.”

The dispute centers around Lord Elgin’s removal of the ancient sculptures from Athens in the 19th century. While the British Museum asserts that Lord Elgin had legal permission from the Ottoman Turkish authorities who governed Greece at the time, Turkish experts have refuted this claim, stating there is no record of such permission in their archives.

Speaking at a Unesco summit, Zeynep Boz, a representative from the Turkish Ministry of Culture, remarked, “We are not aware of any document that legitimizes the purchase by colonialist UK at that time. I don’t think that there is room to discuss its legality, even under the law of the time.”

Ms. Boz emphasized Turkey’s support for Greece’s demand for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, highlighting the importance of protecting cultural heritage.

The Greek government has consistently argued that Lord Elgin unlawfully removed the Marbles, which were subsequently sold to the British Museum after being transported to the UK. They contend that any legal documentation purportedly permitting Lord Elgin’s actions could be fraudulent, particularly as the alleged firman exists only in Italian translation.

The legal standoff between Greece and the British Museum, governed by an Act of Parliament mandating the museum to retain its collection intact for the UK public, has yet to see resolution. While the museum could theoretically loan the Marbles, Greece refuses any arrangement that acknowledges the sculptures were acquired legally, maintaining they were stolen.

The return of the Elgin Marbles to Athens hinges on potential changes to UK law, a move the current UK government has expressed no intention of pursuing.