Former Louvre Director Charged In Antique Trafficking Case
ForbesJUN 2022
This shows that the trafficking of antiquities is not exclusive to terror groups and organized crime networks. Witting and unwitting collectors, auction houses, and art facilities all contribute to this theft. This is why all of civil society including businesses, governments, and international organizations must mobilize to protect our past.
Despite criticisms, temporary safe havens for endangered cultural objects are needed in some situations, particularly for artifacts in countries faced with conflict and instability. The practice actually helps address the problem of art theft - an atrocious act that leaves gaping holes in the material cultural heritage of poor peoples and fragile states.