![Turkish police seized at least five ancient copies of the Torah with golden inscriptions on 26 October, 2021 [Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/torah.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Turkish police yesterday seized at least five ancient copies of the Torah with golden inscriptions.
The anti-smuggling teams conducted an operation in the southeastern province of Mardin after receiving information that the manuscripts had been brought to the country illegally.
The provincial Security Directorate released footage showing the ancient holy books which are estimated to be about 1,000 years old and processed with gold on different animal leathers.
A suspect has been taken into custody, the police officials said.
The oldest complete Torah scroll still in use dates to around the year 1250 and is in the possession of the synagogue in Biella, Italy.
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