Stolen Artifacts from Lebanon for Sale at a German Auction

The caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wisam Al-Murtada, sent a letter to the Lebanese ambassador in Germany, Mustafa Adib, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, confirming the "necessity of recovering the stolen artifacts from Lebanon." It is noted that the artifacts are listed in the inventory of the Directorate General of Antiquities and were documented according to proper procedures by the scientist Donan, who oversaw the archaeological excavations at the Bustan Al-Sheikh site near the city of Sidon. These artifacts were stored in Sidon before being transferred to the Byblos storerooms, where they were stolen between July 29 and 30, 1981.