Iraq recovers stolen artefacts from Japan and Switzerland

Iraq has successfully recovered a collection of stolen artefacts from Japan and Switzerland, marking a significant step in its ongoing efforts to reclaim looted cultural heritage. The official handover ceremony took place at the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad yesterday, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Minister of Culture Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani.

The recovered artefacts include 27 Mesopotamian relics, 20 Sassanian-era coins, a statue of the sun deity Maran Shamash, and rare Assyrian textile paintings. Some of these items had been on loan to foreign institutions for decades before being wrongfully taken.

فيديو : نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء ووزير الخارجية يسلّم وزير الثقافة قطعاً أثرية نادرة مستعادة من اليابان وسويسرا pic.twitter.com/tU2uIY8Oyx

— وزارة الخارجية العراقية (@Iraqimofa) February 11, 2025

READ: Iraq exhibits ancient artefacts returned by the US and other countries

“This was a major challenge,” said Foreign Minister Hussein. “These artefacts are not just remnants of the past; they are part of our identity, our history and our national pride.” He emphasised the diplomatic and legal complexities involved in their return and reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to recovering all stolen antiquities.

The successful return of these items follows years of diplomatic efforts by Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with embassies in Tokyo and Bern, as well as international cultural bodies. Hussein acknowledged these efforts, stating, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not spare any effort in bringing back all looted artefacts.”

The #Iraqi Museum has received several artifacts that were repatriated from Switzerland and Japan. #archaeology. pic.twitter.com/1AtpMegFgo

— Aqeel almansrawi (@AqeelAlmansrawi) February 12, 2025

Culture Minister Al-Badrani echoed this sentiment, calling the recovery a “historic step” in Iraq’s broader mission to safeguard its ancient heritage.

Iraq has faced widespread looting of its cultural sites, particularly after the illegal 2003 US-led invasion and during Daesh’s occupation of large parts of the country as part of its “caliphate”. Since 2008, the US alone has returned over 1,200 artefacts.

READ: Switzerland returns three looted artefacts to Iraq