[CPProt.net] Turkish Lawyers File Suit Against British Museum Halikarnassos Mausoleum

[Ellie Bruggeman]

Turkish Lawyers File Suit Against British Museum Halikarnassos Mausoleum

A campaign has been launched for the restitution of Turkey over the 
Mausoleum of Halikarnassos that was transported from Bodrum in southern 
Turkey to the British Museum 150 years ago.

A documentary was prepared and 30,000 signatures were collected within 
the framework of the campaign. A group of lawyers is now preparing to 
file a lawsuit against the British Museum in the European Court of Human 
Rights (ECHR). Nearly 30 lawyers from Istanbul and Izmir together with 
the Bodrum Municipality along with various non-government organizations 
launched a campaign for the restitution of the Mausoleum transported to 
London in 1846. To this end a documentary film, entitled “Antique 
Halikarnasos”, has been prepared. Lawyer Remzi Kazmaz relating they had 
had received support from the Bodrum district administration and the 
Bodrum municipality says that they aim to draw public attention to the 
case before the judicial process begins.

Kazmaz also reports that the Bodrum Municipality and the Alternative 
Cinema group have launched a widespread signature campaign and have so 
far collected more than 30,000 signatures. Another interesting action 
undertaken within the frame of the campaign was placing a black wreath 
at British Museum. Kazmaz says they will first appeal to the British 
Courts, and then if they cannot get any results in Britain, they will 
take the case to the ECHR. International Law Specialist, Lawyer Sekan 
Cengiz says: “The British Museum exhibits historical monuments 
transported from various places from all around the world. The true 
owners of these exhibits have launched legal processes for their 
restitution. There are similar cases from Greece and Egypt.”

Queen Artemis constructed the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos for her 
husband, who ruled in the Bodrum region between 353 and 377 BC. Statues 
and reliefs belonging to the monument unearthed by British archeologist 
150 years ago are now on display at the British Museum.

http://www.zaman.com/