Belgian Court Orders Return of Smuggled Antiquities to Iran

A regional Belgian appeals court ruled that a consignment of antiquities, including more than 300 historical objects discovered in Iran some 50 years ago, must be returned to the Islamic Republic, overturning previous verdicts that were challenged by Iran’s diplomatic channels.

The appeals court of Belgium’s Liege ordered that the historical objects, which have been kept at a museum in the European country for decades, be given back to Iran, Mohsen Mohebbi, an official at Iran’s presidential office said on Tuesday.

The invaluable antiquities had been discovered in Khurvin, a rural area at Iran’s northern province of Alborz, about 50 years ago.

The historical objects, dating back to 2000 B.C., had been discovered by a French woman and were later smuggled out of Iran by a Belgian diplomat, according to the Iranian officials.

“The items are scheduled to be transferred to Iran soon,” Mohebbi said.