UAE | Heritage and Culture
Federal law needed to fight smuggling of antiquities in UAE
An antiquities expert has called for a federal law safeguarding antiquities to halt trade in these unique artefacts across all emirates.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:08 May 18, 2008
- Seized illegal artefacts from Azerbaijan are displayed at the Sharjah Archaeology Museum.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
Sharjah: An antiquities expert has called for a federal law safeguarding antiquities to halt trade in these unique artefacts across all emirates.
"We need to have a federal antiquities law that prevents the buying and selling of historical artefacts all over the country, as Sharjah is currently the only emirate that has one," said Dr Sabbah Jasem, head of the Sharjah Directorate of Antiquities.
Speaking at the opening of a new exhibition at the Archaeology Museum, Dr Jasem said anyone who removes antiquities from archeological sights will be prosecuted for theft.
"The only people allowed to handle antiquities have to be affiliated with a museum or must have special permission from the relevant authorities."
A special exhibition of seized antiquities highlighting the illegal trade will run until July 15 in Sharjah. All the antiquities displayed originated from Azerbaijan.
The artefacts were destined for the European antiquities market, but were intercepted by Sharjah Customs officials.
Dr Jasem said some smugglers pass through Sharjah. Most smuggled goods originate from Iran, Iraq and Turkey and are shipped from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Most recently, on April 15, a ship was confiscated containing spearheads and ancient weapons that were brought from Pakistan, according to Dr Jasem.
Preserving antiquities is of great importance to the Directorate of Antiquities as it is a way of preserving cultural heritage.
Stealing antiquities not only weakens the role of museums, but it also weakens the process of documenting, surveying and putting the artefacts into context.
Mohammad Al Rayeesi, officer-in-charge at the Customs Centre, Department of Seaports and Customs, said the majority of confiscated antiquities come through Sharjah Airport and Khor Sharjah.
"To save time and cut down on the number of inspectors at Khor Fakkan Port, we now use an X-ray machine that can scan an entire ship. The machine can spot anything illegal."
Share this article
More from UAE Heritage & Culture
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Student tackles used cooking oil
- Road accidents the leading cause of brain injuries in Dubai
- No one wants to teach
- Notary phone bookings to start next month
- Move abandoned vehicles out of the way
- Fishmongers, consumers trade charges
- DIFF function to raise funds for Aids charity
- Seven held trying to fly from Abu Dhabi illegally
- Trucks queue eases at Saudi border
- 15 genetic triggers linked to birth defects in UAE
- Haj mission's H1N1 measures lauded
- Employer prosecuted for false accusation
- Number of Saudi students rises
- Petrol fumes at gas stations are threat to health
- English to stay as medium of instruction
Community Reports
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
-
Construction site turned into dump
Sharjah residents using abandoned spot to dispose of waste
-
Stop disregarding road rules
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to curb reckless driving during rush hours in Mussafah industrial area underpass
-
Public transport is the way to go
Residents must stop complaining about feeder buses taking up parking space
