A German tourist has been acquitted of allegedly smuggling ancient treasures in Iraq. A fellow British passenger was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
(dpa) The judge saw it as proven that the Briton acted with criminal intent, as the competent court announced on Monday. He can appeal the verdict. According to the judge, the evidence against the German was not enough for a conviction.
A total of 32 artifacts were found during an inspection of the ten-strong tour group at Baghdad airport. Two were in the German’s luggage. The 60-year-old Berliner and the Brit were arrested.
According to the lawyer Mohammed Kubirli, the pieces in the German’s suitcase belonged to another tourist. The objects were also “very small” and “directly collected from the ground”. The German didn’t even know that the objects were antiquities, says Kubirli. The pieces are believed to have come from the Uruk and Eridu sites, about a three-hour drive south of the capital, Baghdad.
Illegal trade in ancient treasures brings smugglers millions
The German was very happy about the verdict and cried, his defense attorney told the German Press Agency. After his release from prison, he wanted to travel back to Germany within 48 hours.
Archaeological pieces are among the most important cultural assets in Iraq. The illegal trade in ancient treasures from the Middle East means a million-dollar business for the smugglers, made possible by political unrest and conflicts. Theft and smuggling are severely punished. The antiques of the tour group were confiscated and, according to the court, are now to be taken to a museum.